EPA Approval of Missouri's Plan to Reduce Ground-Level Ozone Pollution in the St. Louis Area
Official: Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Approvals and Promulgations: Missouri; Moderate Attainment Plan Elements for the 2015 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Missouri Portion of the St. Louis Nonattainment Area
Reading: The EPA is approving Missouri's plan to comply with the existing 2015 ozone standard, continuing an established federal air-quality requirement rather than strengthening or relaxing it.
Louis area, including parts that border New Jersey's neighboring states.
In clear language
The EPA is reviewing Missouri's plan to improve air quality in the St. Louis region, which currently fails to meet federal standards for ground-level ozone (smog). Missouri's strategy includes steps to reduce emissions from cars, factories, and other sources to bring the area into compliance with 2015 federal air-quality standards. This approval affects air quality across the St. Louis area, including parts that border New Jersey's neighboring states.
How does this affect you?
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Who does this affect?
- Residents and workers in the St. Louis nonattainment area who breathe air affected by ozone pollution
- Businesses and industries in Missouri that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which form ground-level ozone
- State and local air-quality agencies in Missouri tasked with implementing emission-reduction measures
What can you do?
- Review Missouri's implementation plan at regulations.gov (docket EPA-R07-OAR-2026-5842) and submit public comments by September 15, 2026, if you live in or care about the St. Louis region
- Monitor EPA announcements for the final approval and any emission-reduction programs that may affect your area
Timeline
- Comment deadline: 2026-09-15
- Comment deadline: 2026-09-15
- Comment deadline: 2026-09-15
- Comment deadline: 2026-09-15
- Comment deadline: 2026-09-15
- Comment deadline: 2026-09-15
- Comment deadline: 2026-09-15
- Comment deadline: 2026-09-15
- Comment deadline: 2026-09-15
- 2026-08-14: Proposed rule posted
- 2026-09-15: Public comment deadline
No New Jersey official has a verified action on this policy yet.
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