Standards Comparison

    CAA

    Mandatory
    1970

    U.S. federal law regulating air emissions and quality standards

    VS

    APRA CPS 234

    Mandatory
    2019

    Australian prudential standard for information security resilience

    Quick Verdict

    CAA governs US air emissions and quality standards for all industries via permits and enforcement, while APRA CPS 234 mandates information security capabilities for Australian financial entities. Organizations adopt CAA for environmental compliance; CPS 234 for cyber resilience and regulatory trust.

    Air Quality

    CAA

    Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq.)

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    18-24 months

    Key Features

    • Sets NAAQS for six criteria pollutants protecting health/welfare
    • Mandates SIPs for state attainment planning and designations
    • Requires Title V permits consolidating all applicable requirements
    • Imposes NSPS and MACT technology-based emission standards
    • Enables cooperative federalism with EPA-state implementation
    Information Security

    APRA CPS 234

    APRA Prudential Standard CPS 234 Information Security

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • Board ultimate responsibility for information security
    • Risk-based capability commensurate with threats
    • Systematic independent testing and assurance
    • 72-hour APRA notification for material incidents
    • Third-party oversight for all information assets

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    CAA Details

    What It Is

    The Clean Air Act (CAA), codified at 42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq., is a comprehensive U.S. federal statute establishing the national framework for air pollution control. It authorizes EPA to set ambient and source-based standards, with states implementing via enforceable plans. Its cooperative federalism approach combines national floors with state flexibility.

    Key Components

    • NAAQS for six criteria pollutants (primary/secondary standards).
    • SIPs, NSPS, MACT/NESHAPs, Title V permits, NSR/PSD.
    • Titles cover mobile sources, acid rain trading (Title IV), ozone protection (Title VI).
    • Enforcement via penalties, sanctions, citizen suits; no formal certification but permit compliance.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Mandatory for emitters meeting thresholds; drives compliance to avoid fines, shutdowns, nonattainment impacts. Reduces health/environmental risks, enables permitting for expansions, supports ESG via emission reductions. Builds stakeholder trust through transparent reporting.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: applicability assessment, emissions inventory, permitting (Title V/NSR), install controls/monitoring (CEMS), ongoing reporting. Applies to major stationary/mobile sources nationwide; state variations require SIP reviews. Audits via EPA tools like ECMPS.

    APRA CPS 234 Details

    What It Is

    APRA Prudential Standard CPS 234 (Information Security) is a binding prudential regulation issued by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, effective 1 July 2019. It mandates APRA-regulated entities to maintain an information security capability commensurate with threats and vulnerabilities to ensure operational resilience. The approach is risk-based, focusing on governance, controls, testing, and incident response.

    Key Components

    • **Governance and accountabilityBoard ultimate responsibility, defined roles.
    • Policy framework, asset classification (criticality/sensitivity), commensurate controls.
    • Systematic testing, independent assurance, incident management.
    • Outcomes-based with 36 paragraphs; no fixed controls, emphasizes CIA triad.
    • Compliance via evidence, APRA notifications (72 hours for incidents, 10 business days for weaknesses).

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mandatory for banks, insurers, super funds; avoids penalties, remediation.
    • Enhances resilience, reduces incident impact, builds trust.
    • Strategic benefits: competitive edge, better vendor terms, operational efficiency.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: gap analysis, governance, assets/controls, testing, monitoring. Applies to APRA entities (scale-agnostic, proportionate); group-wide. No certification, but audit-ready evidence required. (178 words)

    Key Differences

    Scope

    CAA
    Air emissions, NAAQS, permits, enforcement
    APRA CPS 234
    Information security, cyber resilience, third-parties

    Industry

    CAA
    All industries, US-wide stationary/mobile sources
    APRA CPS 234
    Australian financial services (banks, insurers)

    Nature

    CAA
    Mandatory US federal environmental law
    APRA CPS 234
    Mandatory prudential standard for regulated entities

    Testing

    CAA
    CEMS, stack tests, Title V monitoring
    APRA CPS 234
    Systematic control testing, annual response plans

    Penalties

    CAA
    Civil/criminal fines, sanctions, FIPs
    APRA CPS 234
    Supervisory actions, remediation, license risks

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about CAA and APRA CPS 234

    CAA FAQ

    APRA CPS 234 FAQ

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