The EPA proposed Aug. 6 to grant New Hampshire’s petition to withdraw from the Ozone Transport Region, a multistate air quality coordination body established under the Clean Air Act to address pollution that crosses state borders.
The agency is simultaneously proposing to conditionally approve New Hampshire’s request to remove its Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance program from its State Implementation Plan, which could reduce vehicle emissions testing requirements for state residents.
The Ozone Transport Region was established because air pollution from upwind states contributes to ground-level ozone violations in downwind states, particularly across the densely populated Northeast corridor. The region encompasses states from Virginia to Maine.
New Hampshire argues its own emissions have declined sufficiently that continued participation in OTR requirements is no longer necessary, according to the state’s petition. The state contends that its air quality meets federal standards without the additional regulatory burden imposed by OTR membership.
Environmental groups have argued that removing New Hampshire from the OTR could increase ozone pollution in downwind New England states, particularly Massachusetts and Maine, which could receive increased pollution from sources no longer subject to OTR control requirements.
The proposal sets a potential precedent for other states seeking to exit regional air quality frameworks, a possibility that concerns air quality advocates who view interstate coordination as essential to managing pollution that does not respect state boundaries.
If finalized, the withdrawal could reduce regulatory costs for New Hampshire businesses and eliminate vehicle inspection requirements that affect resident vehicle ownership expenses. The proposal is subject to a public comment period before the EPA makes a final decision.