South Dakota's air pollution plan gets federal approval, setting a new baseline for the next decade

The US environmental regulators have approved South Dakota's plan to reduce regional haze, which is air pollution that obscures visibility. This means the state's current approach to controlling emissions from power plants and other sources will be the standard for the next ten years.

Every state must submit a plan to reduce regional haze, which is often caused by emissions from coal-fired power plants. This approval locks in South Dakota's current strategy for the next decade, meaning no new, stricter requirements will be imposed on polluters in the state during this period. It sets a baseline for air quality that will affect visibility in national parks and wilderness areas.