Congresswoman Lesko Sounds Alarm: EPA’s Maricopa County Move Poses National Security Risk

By Staff Reporter |

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reclassified Maricopa County as “serious” nonattainment for ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), leading to significant political controversy and concerns over national security. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko has voiced apprehensions that this change may hinder Arizona’s burgeoning semiconductor sector, particularly in light of funding awarded to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

Lesko criticized the EPA’s timing, suggesting that the reclassification could be politically motivated, aimed at impacting the incoming Trump administration. “If the EPA continues its expedited schedule to finalize this reclassification before the Trump Administration takes office, it will negatively impact Arizona and national security,” she stated. She emphasized the importance of the recently awarded $6.6 billion in CHIPS Act funding, arguing that the EPA’s decision could jeopardize this crucial investment.

The congresswoman indicated that she had received assurances from the EPA about delaying the decision until May. “The reason for this EPA change is not clear to me,” she noted. Lesko urged the EPA to adhere to its previously communicated timeline, voicing concerns over the agency’s compliance with legal requirements, which stipulate a 180-day period for redesignation.

The implications of the reclassification are substantial. Currently, the emissions threshold for major sources of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds sits at 100 tons. If the redesignation to serious nonattainment is finalized, this threshold would be substantially lowered to 50 tons. Lesko warned that TSMC’s new facility would require an air quality permit under these stricter limits, potentially stalling a project vital to Arizona’s economic development.

Following the EPA’s decision, the Maricopa County Air Quality department had previously indicated a likely reclassification coming prior to February 3, 2025. The agency had previously moved Maricopa County from marginal to moderate nonattainment in 2022, allowing until last January for the county to submit an adequate plan.

As analysts continue to evaluate the repercussions of the EPA’s decision, the dispute highlights a broader concern over how environmental regulations intersect with economic growth, particularly in a state strategically positioning itself as a leader in advanced manufacturing.