Arizona Leaders Urge EPA to Halt Penalties on States for Foreign Air Pollution

By Staff Reporter |

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a significant policy shift, stating it will no longer penalize Arizona and other states for foreign air pollution impacting their air quality levels. This decision marks a notable change after years of local advocacy from Arizona leaders aimed at eliminating such regulations.

Arizona Free Enterprise Club (AFEC) has played a pivotal role in this advocacy. AFEC President Scot Mussi praised the EPA’s decision, highlighting the burdensome consequences of previous guidelines. “Under these mandates, Arizona faced the prospect of implementing extreme measures like banning gasoline-powered vehicles, which would still fall short of meeting ozone standards,” Mussi stated. He emphasized the need to reject these ineffective environmental policies.

On April 8, 2025, the EPA, led by Administrator Lee Zeldin, officially rescinded the Guidance on the Preparation of Clean Air Act Section (CAA) 179B Demonstrations for Nonattainment Areas Affected by International Transport of Emissions. This guidance had dictated strict penalizations for states linked to international pollution sources, complicating efforts to address air quality issues.

In its press release, the EPA shared that the previous guidance made it excessively challenging for states to demonstrate the detrimental effects of foreign emissions. “States should not be accountable for pollution that crosses international borders,” the EPA asserted. Zeldin echoed this sentiment, stating that U.S. citizens should not suffer from lax environmental standards upheld by other nations.

The EPA committed to collaborating with state and local air agencies to provide relief from the rescinded guidance. This policy change aligns with the Trump administration’s prior regulatory approaches and reflects Zeldin’s efforts to streamline processes for air quality management across the country.

In a recent meeting, Maricopa County leaders—including Chairman Thomas Galvin and Supervisor Debbie Lesko—discussed the difficulties Arizona faces in attributing certain pollution sources to international transport. Their statement marked a shift from previous leadership that had prioritized compliance with EPA standards.

“The challenges we presented to the EPA illustrate the urgent need to balance environmental protections with economic development,” Galvin and Lesko noted. They also expressed gratitude to Senator Mark Kelly for his support in addressing this critical issue.