Except as provided in subsection (b), any person may commence a civil action on his own behalf-
The district courts shall have jurisdiction, without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties, to enforce such an emission standard or limitation, or such an order, or to order the Administrator to perform such act or duty, as the case may be, and to apply any appropriate civil penalties (except for actions under paragraph (2)). The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to compel (consistent with paragraph (2) of this subsection) agency action unreasonably delayed, except that an action to compel agency action referred to in section 7607(b) of this title which is unreasonably delayed may only be filed in a United States District Court within the circuit in which such action would be reviewable under section 7607(b) of this title. In any such action for unreasonable delay, notice to the entities referred to in subsection (b)(1)(A) shall be provided 180 days before commencing such action.
No action may be commenced-
except that such action may be brought immediately after such notification in the case of an action under this section respecting a violation of section 7412(i)(3)(A) or (f)(4) of this title or an order issued by the Administrator pursuant to section 7413(a) of this title. Notice under this subsection shall be given in such manner as the Administrator shall prescribe by regulation.
The court, in issuing any final order in any action brought pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, may award costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) to any party, whenever the court determines such award is appropriate. The court may, if a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is sought, require the filing of a bond or equivalent security in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Nothing in this section shall restrict any right which any person (or class of persons) may have under any statute or common law to seek enforcement of any emission standard or limitation or to seek any other relief (including relief against the Administrator or a State agency). Nothing in this section or in any other law of the United States shall be construed to prohibit, exclude, or restrict any State, local, or interstate authority from-
against the United States, any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or any officer, agent, or employee thereof under State or local law respecting control and abatement of air pollution. For provisions requiring compliance by the United States, departments, agencies, instrumentalities, officers, agents, and employees in the same manner as nongovernmental entities, see section 7418 of this title.
For purposes of this section, the term "emission standard or limitation under this chapter" means-
which is in effect under this chapter (including a requirement applicable by reason of section 7418 of this title) or under an applicable implementation plan.
1 So in original. The period probably should be ", or".
2 So in original. The word "or" probably should not appear.
3 So in original.
4 So in original. The semicolon probably should be a comma.
5 So in original. The period probably should be a comma.
6 So in original. Probably should be "this section".
42 U.S.C. § 7604
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTThe Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (d), are set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
CODIFICATIONSection was formerly classified to section 1857h-2 of this title.
PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 304 of act July 14, 1955, was renumbered section 311 by Pub. L. 91-604 and is classified to section 7611 of this title.
AMENDMENTS1990-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101-549, §707(a), (f), in closing provisions, inserted before period at end ", and to apply any appropriate civil penalties (except for actions under paragraph (2))" and inserted sentences at end giving courts jurisdiction to compel agency action unreasonably delayed and requiring 180 days notice prior to commencement of action.Subsec. (a)(1), (3). Pub. L. 101-549, §707(g), inserted "to have violated (if there is evidence that the alleged violation has been repeated) or" before "to be in violation".Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101-549, §302(f), substituted "section 7412(i)(3)(A) or (f)(4)" for "section 7412(c)(1)(B)" in closing provisions.Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 101-549, §707(c), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "In such action under this section, the Administrator, if not a party, may intervene as a matter of right." Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 101-549, §707(d), added subsec. (c)(3).Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 101-549, §707(e), struck out "any condition or requirement of section 7413(d) of this title (relating to certain enforcement orders)" before ", section 7419 of this title", substituted "subchapter VI" for "part B of subchapter I", and substituted "; or" for period at end. Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 101-549, §707(e), which directed that par. (4) be added at end of subsec. (f), was executed by adding par. (4) after par. (3), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101-549, §707(b), added subsec. (g). 1977-Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 95-190, §14(a)(77), inserted "or modified" after "new". Pub. L. 95-95, §303(a), added subsec. (a)(3).Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95-95, §303(c), inserted provisions which prohibited any construction of this section or any other law of the United States which would prohibit, exclude, or restrict any State, local, or interstate authority from bringing any enforcement action or obtaining any judicial remedy or sanction in any State or local court against the United States or bringing any administrative enforcement action or obtaining any administrative remedy or sanction against the United States in any State or local administrative agency, department, or instrumentality under State or local law.Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 95-190, §14(a)(78), inserted ", or" after "(relating to ozone protection)", substituted "any condition or requirement under an" for "requirements under an", and struck out "or" before "section 7491". Pub. L. 95-95, §303(b), added par. (3).
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1990 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 101-549, title VII, §707(g), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2683, provided that: "The amendment made by this subsection [amending this section] shall take effect with respect to actions brought after the date 2 years after the enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 [Nov. 15, 1990]."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1977 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 95-95 effective Aug. 7, 1977, except as otherwise expressly provided, see section 406(d) of Pub. L. 95-95 set out as a note under section 7401 of this title.
TERMINATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of reporting provisions in subsec. (g)(1) of this section, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104-66 as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and the 6th item on page 165 of House Document No. 103-7.
PENDING ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS Suits, actions, and other proceedings lawfully commenced by or against the Administrator or any other officer or employee of the United States in his official capacity or in relation to the discharge of his official duties under act July 14, 1955, the Clean Air Act, as in effect immediately prior to the enactment of Pub. L. 95-95 [Aug. 7, 1977], not to abate by reason of the taking effect of Pub. L. 95-95 see section 406(a) of Pub. L. 95-95 set out as an Effective Date of 1977 Amendment note under section 7401 of this title.
MODIFICATION OR RESCISSION OF RULES, REGULATIONS, ORDERS, DETERMINATIONS, CONTRACTS, CERTIFICATIONS, AUTHORIZATIONS, DELEGATIONS, AND OTHER ACTIONSAll rules, regulations, orders, determinations, contracts, certifications, authorizations, delegations, or other actions duly issued made, or taken by or pursuant to act July 14, 1955, the Clean Air Act, as in effect immediately prior to the date of enactment of Pub. L. 95-95 [Aug. 7, 1977] to continue in full force and effect until modified or rescinded in accordance with act July 14, 1955, as amended by Pub. L. 95-95 [this chapter], see section 406(b) of Pub. L. 95-95 set out as an Effective Date of 1977 Amendment note under section 7401 of this title.
- Administrator
- The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
- State
- The term "State" means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa and includes the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
- person
- The term "person" includes an individual, corporation, partnership, association, State, municipality, political subdivision of a State, and any agency, department, or instrumentality of the United States and any officer, agent, or employee thereof.
- standard of performance
- The term "standard of performance" means a requirement of continuous emission reduction, including any requirement relating to the operation or maintenance of a source to assure continuous emission reduction.
- emission standard
- The terms "emission limitation" and "emission standard" mean a requirement established by the State or the Administrator which limits the quantity, rate, or concentration of emissions of air pollutants on a continuous basis, including any requirement relating to the operation or maintenance of a source to assure continuous emission reduction, and any design, equipment, work practice or operational standard promulgated under this chapter..1
- emission limitation
- The terms "emission limitation" and "emission standard" mean a requirement established by the State or the Administrator which limits the quantity, rate, or concentration of emissions of air pollutants on a continuous basis, including any requirement relating to the operation or maintenance of a source to assure continuous emission reduction, and any design, equipment, work practice or operational standard promulgated under this chapter..1