Gallego Urges EPA to Stop Punishing Arizona for Outside Air Pollution
Despite the fact that nearly 80% of emissions assigned to Arizona are not caused by its residents, the state risks losing federal funding as punishment
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan urging the Agency to use its administrative flexibility to ensure air quality regulations effectively target sources of air pollution rather than punishing Arizona for pollution outside its control.
“Efforts to address air pollution in Arizona must focus on practical solutions that both account for the sources of pollution, including sources outside of impacted communities, and for ongoing efforts around electrification and environmentally conscious development,” Rep. Gallego writes.
As the letter states, parts of Arizona, including Maricopa County, are at risk of facing 2-to-1 emissions offset requirements and losing federal highway funds. These consequences would be devastating and unfair to the state, as over 80% of the emissions assigned to Arizona are not produced or controlled by residents but instead come from Natural Sources, International Transport, and Interstate Transport.
Rep. Gallego goes on to suggest ways the EPA and Arizona localities can work together to improve the area’s air quality while also supporting the state’s growing economy, including categorizing international transport as part of a 179B declaration, having flexibility around exceptional events, recognizing the role of wildfires in air quality degradation, encouraging regional electrification and grid resiliency efforts, identifying exempted industries, and more.
“We all share the same goal of improving the area’s air quality, and these could move us in the right direction,” Rep. Gallego concludes.
“We appreciate Rep. Gallego's decisive stand against EPA measures that unfairly penalize Arizona for emissions beyond our control,” said Danny Seiden, President and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry. “The Chamber supports his call for pragmatic solutions, recognizing that 80% of the pollution affecting our state originates elsewhere. We thank Rep. Gallego for his leadership and join him in calling for a balanced approach that fosters both environmental sustainability and economic growth.”
Rep. Gallego is sending the letter following numerous conversations with local leaders and groups on the ground in Arizona, including his January meeting with mayors from across Maricopa County.