Dallas-Fort Worth gets a pass on some air pollution controls

The US environmental regulators are proposing to approve Texas' plan for reducing smog-forming chemicals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This means some industrial facilities in the region will not have to install new pollution control equipment that was previously required.

For years, cities designated as 'serious' ozone nonattainment areas had to implement specific pollution controls. This proposal means that the Dallas-Fort Worth area can meet its clean air obligations without requiring certain industries to upgrade their equipment. It effectively loosens a requirement for a major metropolitan area.