Polluting factories can now build their non-polluting parts before getting an air permit

US environmental regulators are changing the rules for when a new factory must get an air pollution permit. Now, factories can build foundations and other non-polluting structures before they get the permit for the parts that actually emit pollution.

For decades, a factory could not begin any construction until it had a permit for its pollution-emitting parts. This meant long delays for projects, even for site preparation or building offices. This change means developers can start some work sooner, potentially speeding up construction timelines for new industrial facilities.