Survey Results Show Laws to Protect Air and Water Are Viewed as Most Important Environmental Initiatives

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 1999 /PRNewswire/ -- Most Americans view the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts as critical pieces of legislation, and feel that each has made progress toward its goal, according to a survey released today by the non-profit Foundation for Clean Air Progress (FCAP).

The survey polled respondents regarding the importance of the Clean Air Act and various other U.S. and international environmental initiatives, and what those efforts have accomplished. Almost three quarters (72 percent) of those surveyed believe that the Clean Air Act has accomplished either "some" or "a great deal." More than half (58 percent) describe the legislation as very important, giving it a rating of 8 or higher on a scale from one to ten.

Respondents were asked about the Clean Air Act (to prevent air pollution); Clean Water Act (to prevent water pollution); Endangered Species Act (to protect endangered plants and animals); Superfund (to clean up toxic waste sites); the Kyoto Protocol (to prevent global warming); and the Montreal Protocol (to protect the ozone layer). The Clean Air Act was rated second in importance, behind the Clean Water Act (64 percent), and ahead of Superfund (50 percent), Endangered Species Act (50 percent), Kyoto Protocol (31 percent) and Montreal Protocol (28 percent).

"The Clean Air Act is a cornerstone of the environmental progress that we've seen in the U.S. during this century," said FCAP president William Fay. "As we enter the new millennium, it's important to recognize that this critical piece of legislation has had a significant and measurable impact on our air quality, and will continue to do so well into the next century."

In addition, the Clean Air Act is among the better-known environmental initiatives; more than 90 percent are familiar with the legislation.

A majority (57 percent) of those surveyed also believe that we have made major progress on air pollution over the last 30 years. In fact, more people think progress has been made on air pollution than on any of the other environmental issues mentioned. Still, four out of ten of those surveyed (40 percent) do not feel that significant progress has been made on this issue. The reality is that, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in the last three decades, all major U.S. pollutants have been reduced by one-third and more than 77 million tons of pollutants have been eliminated from the air per year.

The survey, which included more than 600 adults nationwide and had a margin of error of +/- four percentage points, was conducted for FCAP by ICR, a national polling firm located in Media, Pennsylvania.

A copy of the full survey report is available at www.cleanairprogress.org

The Foundation for Clean Air Progress is a non-profit, educational organization funded by agriculture, transportation, tourism, recreation, manufacturing and energy trade associations and corporations. The Foundation was formed four years ago to raise public awareness about the facts about air quality and to encourage individual and private sector actions that can contribute to further progress.

FCAP does not engage in lobbying activities at the state or federal level, and does not take positions on regulatory issues. The Foundation believes that any public policy discussions about air quality should take place within the context of the progress that already has occurred, and that will continue to occur as a result of current law.

SOURCE The Foundation for Clean Air Progress