Two Native American tribes must now meet stricter air quality rules for ozone pollution

The US environmental regulators are reclassifying tribal lands in Connecticut to a "Serious" nonattainment area for ozone pollution. This means the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Indian Tribe must now meet stricter air quality standards and develop new plans to reduce ozone.

Air quality enforcement just got tighter for specific tribal lands. This reclassification means the tribes will face more stringent requirements to reduce ozone-forming emissions, which could affect local development and industrial activity. It also sets a precedent for how federal environmental rules apply to tribal areas that fail to meet air quality standards.