1976 Scorecard Vote
Clean Air Act Amendments (HR 10498). The vote is on the Chappell amendment to delete the "no significant deterioration" section from the Clean Air Act. This section provides for the protection of pristine air in National Parks and wilderness areas of 5,000 or more acres, and would force nearby power plants to use the best available pollution control technology to keep air in the Class I quality classification. Chappell's amendment would have replaced the "no significant deterioration" requirements with weak EPA regulations which offered no mandatory protection for the National Parks and wilderness areas, and allowed pollution up to the minimum public health standards. The minimum standards are probably not strict enough to prevent the long-term negative effects of low levels of pollution to public health. September 8, 1976. Rejected 156-199. "NO" is the correct vote.
pro-environment position