EPA Delays Enforcement Of Regional Haze Guidelines

By

NPT Staff
January 7, 2026

Coachella Valley haze; Keys View
The EPA is once again delaying the enforcement of regional haze guidelines affecting national parks / NPS, Robb Hannawacker.

The Environmental Protection Agency is once again delaying the enforcement of regional haze guidelines. The agency has given states a three-year extension to submit plans to clean up harmful air pollution at national parks and improve public health, according to Sierra Club.

The Regional Haze Rule calls for state and federal agencies to work together to improve visibility in 156 national parks and wilderness areas such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the Great Smokies and Shenandoah.

Under the regional haze program, states must submit plans every 10 years outlining strategies to reduce pollution and increase visibility at national parks by ​​implementing compliance schedules, monitoring strategies, and emission reduction technologies. The original deadline was July 2028 and has now been pushed back to July 2031.

“The pollutants that have lowered visibility at national parks not only dampen the experience of visiting these crown jewels, but are public health hazards and threaten the well-being of visitors and nearby residents,” said Sierra Club Senior Attorney Joshua Smith. “It is critical that Lee Zeldin enforce the regional haze program so that our treasured national parks can return to their once-pristine state as soon as possible.” 

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