South Carolina gets a pass on fixing its regional haze problem for now

The US environmental regulators are proposing to approve South Carolina's plan for reducing regional haze, even though it does not fully meet federal goals. This means the state will not face immediate penalties or new mandates for air quality improvements related to visibility.

The Clean Air Act requires states to make "reasonable progress" toward clear skies in national parks and wilderness areas. This approval means South Carolina's current plan, which does not fully achieve that goal, is considered sufficient for the next several years. It sets a precedent for how much states can push back on federal environmental mandates without facing consequences.