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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§7472 Initial Classifications

Title 42 › CHAPTER 85 — AIR POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER I — PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES › Part C — Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality › subpart i — clean air › § 7472

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Make certain parks and large protected areas Class I and keep them that way. International parks, national wilderness areas bigger than 5,000 acres, national memorial parks bigger than 5,000 acres, and national parks bigger than 6,000 acres that existed on August 7, 1977 must be Class I and cannot be changed. Areas already made Class I before August 7, 1977 stay Class I but can be changed later under this part. Their boundaries must match any changes after August 7, 1977 or after November 15, 1990. All other areas in a State that were labeled "attainment" or "unclassifiable" under section 7407(d) and are not Class I become Class II unless changed later under section 7474.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §7472

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Areas designated as class I
Upon the enactment of this part, all—
(1)international parks,
(2)national wilderness areas which exceed 5,000 acres in size,
(3)national memorial parks which exceed 5,000 acres in size, and
(4)national parks which exceed six thousand acres in size,
and which are in existence on August 7, 1977, shall be class I areas and may not be redesignated. All areas which were redesignated as class I under regulations promulgated before August 7, 1977, shall be class I areas which may be redesignated as provided in this part. The extent of the areas designated as Class I under this section shall conform to any changes in the boundaries of such areas which have occurred subsequent to August 7, 1977, or which may occur subsequent to November 15, 1990.
(b)Areas designated as class II
All areas in such State designated pursuant to section 7407(d) of this title as attainment or unclassifiable which are not established as class I under subsection (a) shall be class II areas unless redesignated under section 7474 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–549, § 108(m), inserted at end “The extent of the areas designated as Class I under this section shall conform to any changes in the boundaries of such areas which have occurred subsequent to
August 7, 1977, or which may occur subsequent to
November 15, 1990.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–549, § 110(2), substituted “designated pursuant to section 7407(d) of this title as attainment or unclassifiable” for “identified pursuant to section 7407(d)(1)(D) or (E) of this title”. 1977—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 95–190 inserted a comma after “size”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 7472

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110