New Jersey keeps its air quality plan for fine particles, avoiding stricter rules

The US environmental regulators are proposing to approve New Jersey's plan to maintain air quality for fine particulate matter. This means the state will not face new, tougher requirements for controlling tiny airborne particles.

States must regularly prove they are meeting federal air quality standards. If they fail, the US environmental regulators can impose stricter rules, which often means new costs for industries and transportation. This approval means New Jersey avoids those additional costs and regulations for the next decade, based on its current air quality data.