The Clean Air Plan for Houston, formally known as a State Implementation Plan, describes how the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality expects pollution control measures to result in clean air for Houston. Those pollution control measures are adopted by both the federal and state (typically the TCEQ, although some measures are adopted by local governments or other state agencies) governments.

Federal pollution control measures

The federal government has primary authority for pollution caused by transportation sources, commercially available engines, and other commercially available products. Where the Clean Air Act places responsibility in the hands of the federal government, it alone may regulate the emissions rate for such equipment and products (there is a special exception for California).

The federal government also directly regulates the emissions of hazardous air pollutants. In the case of many industrial emissions that contribute to the formation of ozone (and other criteria air pollutants such as PM_2.5), these regulations may overlap significantly with pollution control measures adopted by the state.

State pollution control measures

The state government has primary authority for regulating major industrial "point sources" of air pollution. It may also regulate certain products sold in the state if they are not already regulated by the federal government. It may also regulate the use of products that cause air pollution, even if those products are separately regulated by the federal government.

A state government may also establish separate pollution standards that are more health-protective than the federal government, but Texas has generally avoided establishing such standards. The most important exception is that Texas has a nuisance rule.

Local governments may enforce many state regulations. Municipalities may also adopt local regulations; this is rarely done in Texas.