State Regulation     West Virginia's air pollution control statute [W. Va. Code ch. 22, art. 5], sometimes called the Air Pollution Control Act, has a rich history. In its early days the Air Pollution Control Commission's director was Carl Beard, a man of purpose and commitment unloved by polluting industries. Any person who remembers the intense stench of air pollutants and the degree of particulate emissions from Chemical Valley plants recognizes the success of the Clean Air Act and its state equivalent.

     The present regulatory state agency is the Office of Air Quality within the DEP. That office's written regulations cover an extensive range of subjects.
Last updated on Monday, July 24, 2000