The Environmental Protection Agency proposed to withdraw New Hampshire from the Ozone Transport Region and separately ease the state’s vehicle inspection and maintenance program mandate on Aug. 6. The actions would be the first of their kind in the regional air quality program’s history.
The Ozone Transport Region is a multi-state regulatory framework designed to address regional ozone pollution affecting the Northeast. New Hampshire’s potential withdrawal would be the first time a state has been removed from the OTR since its creation under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
The vehicle inspection mandate changes could reduce compliance costs for New Hampshire residents and auto service businesses by relaxing or eliminating requirements for emissions testing, the EPA said.
The agency is soliciting public comment on both proposals before making a final determination. Environmental advocates are expected to challenge the proposals, arguing that ozone transport is a regional issue requiring coordinated participation from all member states.
Ozone, the primary component of smog, is formed when pollutants from vehicles, power plants and industrial facilities react with sunlight. The OTR requires member states to implement emission reduction measures even if their own pollution levels are within federal standards, because emissions can drift downwind to neighboring states.
New Hampshire officials have argued that the state’s own emissions are low enough to warrant relief from regional requirements designed primarily to address pollution from more industrialized states to the south and west.
For New Hampshire residents, the proposals could mean lower costs associated with vehicle inspections and regulatory compliance. For neighboring states, the withdrawal of a member from the OTR could set a precedent that others seek to follow, potentially weakening the regional framework.