Addressing Ozone Layer Depletion
As part of the United States' commitment to implementing the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Congress amended the Clean Air Act to add provisions (under Title VI) for protecting the ozone layerThe region of the stratosphere containing the bulk of atmospheric ozone. The ozone layer lies approximately 15-40 kilometers (10-25 miles) above the Earth's surface, in the stratosphere. Depletion of this layer by ozone depleting substances (ODS) will lead to higher UVB levels, which in turn will cause increased skin cancers and cataracts and potential damage to some marine organisms, plants, and plastics. The science page (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/index.html) offers much more detail on the science of ozone depletion.. As required under Title VI of the Clean Air Act, EPA is responsible for developing and implementing programs that protect the stratospheric ozone layer. Title 40, Part 82 of the Code of Federal Regulations contains EPA’s regulations to protect the ozone layer.