The EPA is weakening air quality rules, letting states bypass pollution controls despite high emissions, threatening national park visibility.

The Trump administration’s EPA is under scrutiny for weakening the regional haze rule, a 1999 regulation that improved air clarity in over 150 national parks by reducing sulfur and smog emissions. The agency now approves state pollution plans based solely on visibility improvements, allowing states to skip required pollution control evaluations for power plants. This shift, seen in West Virginia and other states, enables polluters to avoid upgrades even if emissions remain high. Conservation groups warn the change undermines decades of progress and threatens parks like Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains. The EPA maintains it follows the law, but critics say it prioritizes industry interests over long-term air quality.