San Diego County can now approve landfill flare rules without full US environmental review

The US environmental regulators are proposing to let San Diego County approve its own rules for pollution from landfill flares. This means the county can move forward with its plan to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions without waiting for full federal approval.

Local air quality districts often have to wait for federal approval on every minor rule change, which can slow down efforts to reduce pollution. This proposal allows San Diego County to act more quickly on a specific type of pollution. It sets a precedent for how local districts might get more autonomy over their air quality plans in the future.