The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a Federal Implementation Plan to enhance air quality in the Detroit metropolitan area by reducing sulfur dioxide emissions.

Children, the elderly, those who have asthma and everyone else in Wayne County should all breathe cleaner, healthier air as a result, according to an Oct. 11 EPA news release. Less haze and acid rain also means less damage to delicate ecosystems.

"EPA’s plan to cut sulfur dioxide levels is especially good news for vulnerable populations and overburdened communities in Detroit and Wayne County," EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore said in the release. “The SO2 plan is an important step forward as EPA and Michigan accelerate our combined efforts to make sure the greater metro area is on track to meet newer federal air quality standards designed to better protect respiratory and heart health.”

Liesl Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy added, “EGLE greatly appreciates its partnership with EPA. Even while this plan was being developed, the state has taken aggressive, positive steps to reduce SO2 emissions – and the data shows these efforts are paying off in cleaner, healthier air,” according to the release.