Washington industrial plants lose a legal shield for excess air pollution

Air quality rules in a part of Washington State just got tighter. Industrial facilities there can no longer use certain legal excuses for polluting too much during startup, shutdown, or equipment problems.

For years, industrial facilities could argue that excess pollution during specific operational events was unavoidable. This rule change removes that legal argument for plants in Southwest Washington. It means US environmental regulators can now more easily fine facilities that pollute too much, even during equipment startup or shutdown.