2026 House Resolution 348

Whereas, Under certain provisions of the Clean Air Act, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged with establishing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) which guide states in implementing environmental policies to protect the welfare and health of the public. These standards establish maximum allowable levels of pollutants in the air. To remain in compliance with federal law, individual states must ensure that their respective environmental policies are stringent enough to keep air pollution levels under these benchmarks; and

Whereas, Current NAAQS standards and EPA policies fail to take into account important considerations that have a detrimental impact on certain Michigan communities that are not solely responsible for air pollution. Emissions from urban areas across Lake Michigan such as Chicago and Milwaukee leave areas in Western Michigan on the receiving end of pollutants regulated by EPA policy. While not responsible for these emissions, these Michigan communities nevertheless face the consequences of regulatory restrictions that do not properly address the source of the problem; and

Whereas, As of July 31, 2026, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has classified certain counties in West Michigan as serious nonattainment areas, meaning that pollutants existing within those areas exceed NAAQS. Portions of Allegan, Berrien, and Muskegon counties specifically have been designated as being “Ozone Serious Nonattainment Areas,” placing limitations on the region’s ability to expand manufacturing. These restrictions will have detrimental impacts on future manufacturing growth and economic development in the region, due to no fault of the industries in West Michigan. For the aforementioned reasons – including the fact that the level of air pollutants in these areas of our state is the result of emissions from other urban areas - we respectfully disagree with these classifications and request that these areas be reexamined; and

Whereas, On December 26, 2025, EGLE submitted Exceptional Events Demonstrations and Redesignation Requests for the Berrien and Muskegon areas of nonattainment. The EPA has proposed to approve this request; however, no request was made for Allegan County, which is still classified as an area of nonattainment; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Director of the United States Environmental Protection Agency to reexamine the current state of non-attainment in West Michigan, including in Allegan County; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.