South Dakota gets federal approval for its plan to clean up regional haze

The US environmental regulators are proposing to approve South Dakota's plan to reduce regional haze. This means the state's strategy to improve visibility in national parks and wilderness areas will move forward.

Every state must submit a plan to reduce air pollution that causes regional haze, especially in protected natural areas. This approval means South Dakota's specific approach to meeting these federal clean air goals is now officially recognized. It sets a precedent for how other states might structure their own plans for the second phase of this national program.