Federal Government Cancels New Air Pollution Rules for Rubber Tire Factories

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is approving updated rules from Illinois that require factories and businesses to use better pollution-control equipment to reduce ozone-forming emissions (volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides) in the Chicago and St. Louis regions. This approval allows Illinois to meet federal air quality standards for ozone, a harmful air pollutant. The rules apply to industrial facilities in eight counties around Chicago and three counties near St. Louis.

The EPA is reviewing Arizona's plan to control fine particle pollution (PM2.5) that damages air quality and public health. The EPA approves most of Arizona's approach but disapproves the plan submitted by Pima County, meaning that county must revise its strategy. This decision affects how Arizona regulates industrial air pollution permits going forward.

The EPA has approved Connecticut's plan to reduce harmful air pollution from a major natural gas compressor station in Cromwell and from rubber tire manufacturing facilities across the state. These facilities must use the best available pollution-control technology to meet federal clean-air standards for smog. Connecticut is part of a region that includes northern New Jersey, so this decision affects air quality across state lines.

The Transportation Department is proposing to create separate, less strict noise limits for trains traveling faster than 160 miles per hour, while keeping the current stricter rules in place for slower trains. This change is meant to make it easier for railroads to build and operate high-speed rail without reducing public health protections. Trains going 160 mph or slower would still follow the existing noise rules.