West Virginia must now clean up its air pollution, even if it comes from other states

US environmental regulators have approved West Virginia's plan to reduce regional haze, which is air pollution that travels long distances. This means the state must now meet specific targets for reducing emissions from its power plants and industrial facilities, even if the pollution originates elsewhere.

For decades, states have argued about who is responsible for air pollution that drifts across borders. This approval means West Virginia can no longer ignore its contribution to regional haze, even if some of the problem comes from other states. It sets a precedent for how states must account for and reduce their share of regional air pollution, regardless of its origin.