Overview:
- Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) anticipates parts of Wayne County will not meet the EPA's updated air quality standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
-The new limit, reduced from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, was finalized in February 2024.
- EGLE is starting to identify nonattainment zones to pinpoint areas needing air quality improvements under these revised standards.
Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) expects parts of Wayne County to fail to meet the EPA’s revised air quality standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
These updates lower the annual limit from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, a change finalized in February 2024. EGLE is beginning the process of identifying nonattainment zones to determine which areas may need to address air quality issues under these revised standards. These updates lower the annual limit from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, a change finalized in February 2024.
This process involves collecting input from states, tribal governments, and the public to determine which areas should be classified as “nonattainment zones” — regions where pollution levels exceed the standard. Public input is a key part of this process, and residents can share their feedback on how the EPA and states engage with communities.
Comments must be submitted by January 3, 2025, to be considered in shaping the engagement process.
Michigan’s anticipated nonattainment areas
EGLE is currently reviewing data to recommend nonattainment zones. Early analysis suggests that areas around Kalamazoo and Wayne County, which includes Detroit, are likely to be included. These recommendations will be submitted to the EPA by February 7, 2025.
When an area is designated as out of attainment for air quality standards, it triggers a series of regulatory actions designed to improve air quality. State agencies, like Michigan’s EGLE, are required to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that outline specific measures to reduce pollution levels and bring the area into compliance.
These plans often include stricter pollution controls for industries, limitations on new facility permits, and enhanced monitoring efforts. Failure to meet the standards can result in federal sanctions, such as withholding transportation funding.
Businesses in nonattainment zones may face increased costs to comply with more stringent regulations, while residents could experience delays in infrastructure projects tied to federal funding approvals. These designations aim to protect public health but can have significant economic and administrative impacts on the affected areas.
The EPA bases its decisions on five main factors: air quality data, emissions levels and sources, meteorology (weather patterns that can influence pollution), geography and topography (physical features of the area), and jurisdictional boundaries (such as city, county, or tribal areas). Certain data, such as pollution from wildfires, may be excluded if it meets the criteria for “exceptional events.”
These are unusual or uncontrollable events, like wildfires or volcanic eruptions, that can significantly affect air quality. To exclude such data, states must demonstrate that the event caused a clear spike in pollution and that it could not have been prevented or managed with reasonable efforts. The EPA evaluates these demonstrations to determine if the data should be excluded from regulatory decisions.
EGLE has previously sought to exclude air quality data influenced by wildfires in Detroit to avoid stricter ozone regulations, citing the exceptional events policy as a basis for its request. The EPA accepted this request, ultimately removing Detroit from the nonattainment zone for ozone despite the city’s high rates of asthma, a condition often triggered by ozone pollution.
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Opportunities for public input
The EPA is seeking feedback on how states and the agency should engage with communities during this process. Comments can be submitted to a nonregulatory docket until January 3, 2025. This deadline is specifically for public input on how the EPA and states can better engage with communities during this process. The agency encourages residents to provide suggestions for improving outreach, ensuring transparency and addressing barriers to participation.
To submit your comments:
- Visit Regulations.gov.
- Search for Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0078.
- Follow the instructions to provide feedback.
The EPA emphasizes that public input will help shape how the designations process is communicated and implemented.
Tools to support understanding
To help residents and officials engage with this process, the EPA has developed several resources:
- Interactive Mapping Tool: A platform to visualize air quality data, pollution sources, and community demographics.
- Informational Video: An overview of the PM2.5 designation process and how it applies to states and tribes.
- Exceptional Events Guidance: Information on how to address air quality data affected by events like wildfires.
These tools are available on the EPA’s Particle Pollution Designations webpage.
What’s next
The EPA follows a structured timeline and considers multiple factors to determine nonattainment zones:
- State Recommendations: States and tribes must submit their recommendations by February 7, 2025.
- EPA Review: By October 2025, the EPA will provide feedback to states and tribes, including proposed modifications to recommendations. This will open a 30-day public comment period.
- Public Input: Residents and stakeholders can offer feedback on the EPA’s proposed designations during the 30-day public comment period.
- Final Designations: The EPA will finalize nonattainment area decisions by February 6, 2026.
- Implementation Plans: Within three years of designation, states must submit detailed plans to bring nonattainment areas into compliance.