The Clean Air Act was passed because dirty air has serious health effects. 42 U.S.C. § 7401. It applies to discharges of air pollution from many different sources. Among other regulations, the act requires polluters to get permits from the federal government or authorized state governments before discharging certain pollutants.

The Clean Air Act protects employees who tell the government about violations of the law, so long as they properly report the retaliation to the Department of Labor within 30 days of the retaliation. If the Clean Air Act protects you, it is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for telling the government about a Clean Air Act violation. 42 U.S.C. § 7622.

Who is Covered?

The Clean Air Act whistleblower provisions apply to all employees, public and private. It does not cover employees fired or demoted for a legitimate reason, unless retaliation was a contributing factor to the employment action, or the legitimate reason was merely a pretense.

What Activity is Protected Against Retaliation?

The Clean Air Act protects employees who file or institute a complaint alleging a violation of the Clean Air Act, who testify or are about to testify in a proceeding under the Clean Air Act, or who complain of a Clean Air Act violation to a supervisor.

What Must a Plaintiff Do to Prevail?

A successful complainant must prove the following by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning that it must be more likely than not that:

1. The employee engaged in protected activity;
2. The employer knew of the employee’s reporting/protected activity;
3. The employer subjected the employee to unfavorable personnel action; and
4. The employee’s protected activity was a “motivating factor” to the employer’s decision to take unfavorable personnel action against the employee.

Complaints are made to the Department of Labor, and must be made within 30 days of the adverse employment action.

What is the Employer’s Burden of Proof?

In order to avoid liability, the employer must demonstrate by a preponderance of evidence that it would have taken the same unfavorable personnel action against the employee in the absence of the employee’s protected activity.

What Retaliatory Acts are Prohibited?

The Clean Air Act prohibits any unfavorable personnel actions taken by an employer in retaliation for protected activity which have a negative effect on the employee’s terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. “Unfavorable personnel actions” can include, but are not limited to:

1. Termination of employment;
2. Demotion;
3. Denial of promotion;
4. Failure to hire/rehire;
5. Intimidation or other physically or verbally threatening behavior;
6. Unwarranted discipline;
7. Unwarranted negative performance review;
8. Suspension or other forced leave;
9. Reduction in pay or hours;
10. Denial of benefits;
11. Reassignment that negatively impacts promotion prospects, seniority, or other benefits;
12. Blacklisting; or
13. Alteration of job duties (removal or excessive addition).

What Remedies Are Available to a Successful Claimant?

If the Department of Labor finds that the evidence supports your whistleblower claim under the Clean Air Act, you may be entitled to remedies that include:

• Reinstatement with previous seniority and benefits 
• Back pay for lost wages, with interest
• Compensatory damages for harms like emotional distress and pain and suffering
• Other possible relief to make the employee whole, including attorneys’ fees