1970년대 미국 환경규제정책과 오염통제기술의 공동형성: 가솔린 자동차 배기가스 저감장치에 대한 미국환경보호청 내부 논쟁을 중심으로

Environmental bureaucrats focused on catalytic converters to reduce nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon in tailpipe emissions which allegedly caused smog in America. This paper lays out the reasons behind the delay in the introduction of catalytic converters and traces the process of its acceptance as “the” pollution control technology to convert pollutants with catalysts. Previous research pointed out strict legislations and health-centered regulation that achieved policy goals without consideration for economic costs and technical feasibility. The history of the controversial introduction of catalytic converters shows that technical feasibility, economy, and international energy situations still left important marks on policy decisions. The co-production of air pollution regulation and pollution control technology innovation came out after lively debate which in turn changed environmental research and government regulation. Intra-agency debates on possible sulfuric acid increases made EPA administrators permit delays in enforcing deadlines for emission reduction. After congressional hearings, lawsuits, and press conferences, the pollution control technology approach became mainstream over the community health approach and the focus of regulation shifted from health to technology. This paper debunks the formal narrative of successful introduction despite corporate resistance and consumer disinterest and argues that environmental regulation and pollution control technologies were co-produced in 1970s America.