Abstract
The Clean Air Act imposes a federal regulatory regime on a number of sources of air pollution. It does not, however, provide a ready means of relief to individuals harmed by air polluters. Nevertheless, many courts have held that the Clean Air Act preempts state common law tort claims that do provide a means to such relief. The disparate benefits of the Clean Air Act and common law tort claims may indicate different purposes and make court imposed preemption of common law tort claims improper. This Comment argues that the Savings Clause in the Clean Air Act and in parallel state statutes should be clarified so as to explicitly preserve an injured party’s ability to seek relief through state common law.
Recommended Citation
Kyle A. Piasecki,
Comment,
Surviving Preemption in a World of Comprehensive Regulations,
49
U. Mich. J. L. Reform Caveat
32
(2015).
Available at:
https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjlr_caveat/vol49/iss1/3