Virginia will now use the same air pollution rules as the rest of the country

Virginia is updating its definition of volatile organic compounds, which are chemicals that contribute to smog. This change means Virginia's air quality rules will now match the federal standard.

For years, states could have slightly different definitions for what counts as an air pollutant. This meant that a chemical considered harmful in one state might not be in another, creating confusion for businesses and making it harder to track pollution consistently. This update removes one such difference, making it easier for federal regulators to enforce air quality standards across state lines.