Which standards were set forth by the Clean Air Act of 1970?

The Clean Air Act of 1970 established a framework for regulating air pollutants and aimed to ensure air quality across the United States. Among its various initiatives, it introduced the New Source Performance Standards. These standards are designed to regulate emissions from new or modified stationary sources of air pollution, ensuring that they meet specific performance criteria to limit the amount of pollutants released into the atmosphere.

By setting these standards, the Clean Air Act sought to mitigate air pollution by ensuring that any new sources of emissions implement the best available technologies and practices. This proactive approach not only aimed to protect public health and the environment but also set a precedent for ongoing air quality improvements.

The other options refer to different aspects of environmental regulation. The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, for instance, applies to specific hazardous emissions but is not synonymous with the broader mandate of the Clean Air Act. State Pollution Control Standards focus more on the state level rather than federally mandated ones established by the Clean Air Act. National Water Quality Standards pertain to water pollution and are governed by a different set of regulations under the Clean Water Act.