Air pollution is not a modern invention. For instance, in the days of the "wide open spaces," there was pollution of the air as a result of campfires. However, intensification of air pollution, with consequent disagreeable and harmful effects, is of a more modern vintage. This is due to increasing urbanization and industrialization. The State of Virginia, as has been stated so often, is becoming more urban and more industrialized. Therefore, the problem of air pollution becomes a matter of increasing concern to this State. Accordingly, the General Assembly of Virginia at its 1964 Regular Session (by House Joint Resolution No. 65) directed the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council to make a study of air pollution.

The Council selected Lewis A. McMurran, Jr., Newport News, a member of the House of Delegates and a member of the Council, as Chairman of a committee to make the initial study and report to it. Selected to serve with Mr. McMurran on the committee were: Willis M. Anderson, Attorney and member of the House of Delegates, Roanoke; Leslie D. Campbell, Jr., Attorney and member of the Senate, Ashland; Stuart C. Crawford, Consulting Engineer, Franklin; W. J. Hecht, Allied Chemical Corporation, Inc., Hopewell; G. P. Heller, Research and Development Division, Albemarle Paper Manufacturing Company, Richmond; Mark C. Hopkins, Manager, Yorktown Refinery, American Oil Company, Yorktown; Mrs. Dorothy S. McDiarmid, Sponsor of House Joint Resolution No. 65 and member of the House of Delegates, Vienna; Robert D. Morrison, City Manager, Lynchburg; Rosser H. Payne, Jr., Director of the Virginia Section of the American Institute of Planners, Warrenton; Edwin K. Phillips, Sr., Treasurer, Benson-Phillips Company, Newport News; Dr. Edward S. Ray, Associate Professor, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond; J. D. Ristroph, Manager, Power Production, Virginia Electric and Power Company, Richmond; Dr. Charles L. Savage, Medical Director, E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company, Incorporated, Waynesboro; G. R. C. Stuart, Attorney, Abingdon; Dr. Woodrow W. Wendt, Executive Director, Virginia Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association, Richmond; and Landon R. Wyatt, member of the Senate, Danville.

The Committee organized and elected Mrs. McDiarmid as Vice-Chairman. John B. Boatwright, Jr. and Wildman S. Kincheloe, Jr. were appointed Secretary and Recording Secretary, respectively.

The Committee considered the air pollution control statutes of those states which have such statutes, and the federal "Clean Air Act" (Public Law 88-206 of 1963, as amended by Public Law 89??272 of 1965). Several members of the Committee attended a program on air pollution on October 1, 1964 at the Hotel Jefferson, Richmond, sponsored by the Virginia Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association. Also, several members of the Committee attended an air pollution program at Beltsville, Maryland from January 11 to January 15, 1965, sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

The Committee collected considerable data and information on the subject under study. A public hearing was held in the State Capitol and was well attended. It formed subcommittees which gave detailed consideration to the several aspects of the study.

Based upon the voluminous data before it, and the views expressed to it, the Committee made its report to the Council. Having reviewed the Committee's report, the Council now presents its findings and recommendations.