Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), and Tom Tiffany (WI-07), introduced the Fair Air Standards Act addressing Southeastern Wisconsin’s classification as an Ozone Nonattainment Area.

Reps. Steil, Grothman, Tiffany at today’s press conference

“Families in Wisconsin shouldn’t be paying for pollution originating from outside the state, in places like Chicago,” said Congressman Steil. “The Fair Air Standards Act ensures that Wisconsin’s non-attainment status is tied to activity originating in our state not those in other areas. Our bill reduces burdens for families, employers, and workers across Southeast Wisconsin while holding out-of-state polluters responsible for their actions.”

Reps. Steil and Tiffany discussing emissions testing in Hales Corners with shop manager

“Wisconsin communities should not be financially punished for pollution they did not create,” said Congressman Fitzgerald. “The Fair Air Standards Act gives states a fair chance to prove when air quality problems are caused by emissions from outside their borders and ensures EPA bases its decisions on facts. This legislation will restore fairness for our region and help us move forward without unnecessary federal barriers.”

“This is a topic we’ve been working on for 25 years, as the poorly drafted Clean Air Act has punished industries in Wisconsin, making them less competitive, especially compared to other states and factories around the world,” said Congressman Grothman. “I’m proud to be championing this bill alongside Congressman Steil to restore the ozone attainment designation that Wisconsin rightfully deserves.”

“Because of outdated federal rules, hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin drivers in seven counties are forced to complete emissions tests every two years just to renew their registration. Wisconsin families should not be punished with costly and time-consuming mandates because of pollution drifting in from Illinois and Indiana. Four decades later and with cleaner vehicles on the road, it is time to end this non-attainment zone mandate and stop burdening drivers with a system that cannot prove it works,” said Congressman Tom Tiffany.

Read the bill HERE

Background:

Portions of Wisconsin are currently designated as an Ozone Nonattainment Area due to pollution originating outside of Wisconsin, including cities like Chicago. The SE WI Regional Planning Commission and Wisconsin DNR have reported that Wisconsin sources contribute to no more than 10% of the ozone emissions monitored in the current nonattainment area.

Under current federal law, when an ozone attainment area misses its deadline, its status automatically bumped up to a higher non-attainment classification. This occurs regardless of whether that status is driven by pollution originating outside of this area.

That designation triggers stricter permitting requirements and additional regulatory burdens on families, employers, and workers through higher regulatory standards and emissions testing mandates – including vehicle emissions testing requirements. Nine of out ten vehicles in Wisconsin pass the current emissions testing requirements, however inspections continue to cost Wisconsin families time and money.

The Fair Air Standards Act creates a process for states to petition to the EPA that any non-attainment status is driven by pollution originating outside its boundaries.

If proven, the EPA would then be required to redesignate that area as an ozone attainment area.

This process would help end Southeast Wisconsin’s nonattainment status, ending ongoing federally mandated compliance burdens including vehicle emissions testing.

The Fair Air Standards Act would not otherwise affect Wisconsin’s compliance with air quality or environmental standards.