Michigan counties get a pass on some air pollution targets for ozone

The US environmental regulators are proposing to approve Michigan's plan for three counties that have not met federal ozone standards. This means these counties will not face immediate penalties for failing to reduce ground-level ozone pollution as quickly as required.

Federal air quality rules require states to show steady progress in reducing pollution. When areas fail to meet these targets, they can face stricter requirements or lose federal highway funding. This proposal gives Michigan more time to meet its goals without those consequences, which could delay cleaner air for residents in Allegan, Berrien, and Muskegon counties.