In 1946, the
California Legislature enacted the first air pollution control law authorizing
the formation of county air pollution control districts. In 1955, the Bay Area
Air Pollution Control Law was adopted, establishing the Bay Area Air Pollution
Control District (later
renamed the Bay Area Air Quality Management District) as the first regional air
pollution control agency in the nation. The Air District has been delegated the
authority to enforce federal asbestos regulation. The Air District developed its own rule in
1976 that is more stringent than the federal rule.