Maine will now let the public comment on air permits while regulators review them

Maine is changing its rules for air pollution permits. The public will now be able to comment on a draft permit at the same time the US environmental regulators are reviewing it.

Previously, the public had to wait for the US environmental regulators to finish their review before they could comment on a proposed air permit. This change means the public can raise concerns earlier in the process. It could speed up the overall permit approval timeline if public input is considered concurrently.