Maricopa County Supervisors Rally Against EPA’s Foreign Air Pollution Penalties on Arizona

By Staff Reporter |

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will cease penalizing Arizona and other states for pollution emanating from foreign sources. This decision follows a meeting where Maricopa County officials, including Chairman Thomas Galvin and Supervisor Debbie Lesko, highlighted the challenges states face in proving the impact of international air pollution.

“At that meeting, county leadership demonstrated how difficult it has been for states like Arizona to prove the impact of air pollution from international transport,” stated Galvin and Lesko. “As Administrator Zeldin said, today’s announcement is a step in the right direction for states looking to balance clean air with economic development.”

The officials expressed their gratitude to Senator Mark Kelly for his support on this matter. In related developments, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the rescindment of the Guidance on the Preparation of Clean Air Act Section (CAA) 179B Demonstrations for Nonattainment Areas Affected by International Transport of Emissions.

This guidance previously penalized states for air pollution that originated from other countries, complicating efforts to address local air quality issues. The EPA articulated concerns regarding the limitations this guidance imposed on states. “This guidance made it unnecessarily difficult for states to demonstrate that foreign air pollution is harming Americans within their borders,” the EPA noted.

Zeldin emphasized that U.S. citizens should not suffer due to the environmental shortcomings of other nations. “Americans should not be harmed by other countries that do not have the same environmental standards,” he stated, underscoring the need for regulatory relief to foster both economic growth and clean air.

The rescinded guidance originated in December 2020 during the Trump administration. It aimed to aid state, local, and tribal air agencies in demonstrating how nonattainment areas could achieve air quality standards without external pollution influences. Moreover, the EPA is reconsidering its assessment of the Northern Wasatch Front in Utah, which was previously determined to have failed to meet ozone standards.

This policy shift aligns with Administrator Zeldin’s broader initiative, “Powering the Great American Comeback,” announced in February, which includes goals related to air quality, energy independence, and economic revitalization across various sectors.