EPA Proposes Repeal of 2024 Nonattainment Decision for Utah’s Northern Wasatch Front to Prevent Area from Being Penalized for Foreign Emissions
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed repealing the Biden Administration’s December 2024 decision to reclassify Utah’s Northern Wasatch Front (which includes the Salt Lake City metropolitan area) from a “Moderate” to a “Serious” nonattainment area under the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Utilizing section 179B of the Clean Air Act (CAA), EPA is proposing that the Northern Wasatch Front (NWF) would have met federal ozone air quality standards by its August 3, 2024, deadline if not for emissions transported into the area from outside the United States. If finalized, this proposal would ensure that manufacturers and residents in Utah’s NWF are not penalized for pollution originating beyond their borders and control, allowing the region to continue growing and developing while maintaining clean air.
“In response to the many Utahns who have raised concerns, I repealed EPA’s burdensome Clean Air Act 179B Guidance that unfairly penalized Americans for pollution caused by other nations with weaker environmental standards,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “Utah now stands to potentially benefit from this action. The Trump EPA remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring clean air for every American. Through cooperative federalism, we will continue partnering with states to advance both economic growth and environmental protection.”
“If finalized, this proposal would prevent burdensome regulations that are beyond Utah’s control, saving time and money while ensuring Americans have clean air,” said EPA Region 8 Regional Administrator Cyrus Western. “This is critical for Utah, where international emissions drive exceedances. With this proposal, EPA is working to cut costly red tape so that communities and businesses can focus on growth.”
This proposal follows multiple reconsideration requests from the Utah congressional delegation, the State of Utah, and state and local industry, including a submission of a 179B technical analysis by the State. The technical analysis demonstrated that international emissions, along with smoke from wildfires, contributed to the area’s ozone exceedances. Both of these factors are outside of Utah’s control and cannot be mitigated through additional local controls. If finalized, EPA’s proposed action would allow the NWF ozone nonattainment area to remain classified as “Moderate” and require it to continue meeting all applicable CAA requirements for that classification.
Under the CAA, areas that fail to attain the federal ozone air quality standards by their attainment date are reclassified to a higher nonattainment level, which triggers more stringent requirements.
Prior to EPA Administrator Zeldin’s leadership, states had an unnecessarily difficult time demonstrating that foreign air pollution harmed Americans within their borders and achieving attainment because of unworkable guidance. On April 7, 2025, while in Utah, Administrator Zeldin rescinded the Guidance on the Preparation of CAA Section 179B Demonstrations for Nonattainment Areas Affected by International Transport of Emissions, and pledged that through cooperative federalism the agency would work with state and local air agencies to develop the evidence necessary to grant regulatory relief under CAA section 179B.
Under Administrator Zeldin’s leadership and his Powering the Great American Comeback initiative, EPA is committed to cooperative federalism and looks forward to continuing to work with states to ensure they meet their statutory obligations and provide clean air for their citizens.
EPA will hold a 30-day public comment period.
Background:
On March 5, 2025, EPA agreed to reconsider its determination that Utah’s NWF area failed to attain the 2015 Ozone NAAQS in a timely manner, and the resulting reclassification of the area from “Moderate” to “Serious” nonattainment.
Today’s announcement follows EPA’s March 2026 determination to not reclassify the Phoenix-Mesa area from “Moderate” to “Serious” nonattainment under the 2015 Ozone NAAQS, marking the first time EPA has used Section 179B authority since Administrator Zeldin rescinded the burdensome 179B guidance.
EPA established the 2015 Ozone NAAQS standards at 70 parts per billion to protect public health and the environment. Learn more about the Clean Air Act and NAAQS.