Washington state can no longer excuse excess pollution from factories

US environmental regulators are approving changes to Washington state's air quality rules. This means factories in the Southwest Clean Air Agency region can no longer use "startup, shutdown, and malfunction" as an excuse for breaking pollution limits.

For years, some industrial facilities could argue in court that their excess pollution during specific operational events was unavoidable. This change removes that legal defense. It means environmental enforcement actions will be simpler and more direct, making it harder for polluters to avoid penalties.