Alliance Welcomes U.S. Court of Appeals Decision on EPA’s Reclassification of Ozone Standard

The Waukesha Business Alliance welcomes the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit’s decision to stay the EPA’s reclassification of southeastern Wisconsin counties, including Waukesha, as “serious” nonattainment areas under the 2015 ozone standard. The ruling halts the implementation of stricter air quality regulations that would have imposed costly permitting and compliance burdens on local businesses. The Alliance has worked with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate, MMAC, WMC, and others in the business community on this issue, and thanks these partners for their leadership.

While we strongly support clean air, these regulations would have penalized Wisconsin businesses for emissions that are largely generated out of state. This decision is a win for employers and the thousands of workers who rely on a balanced, science-based approach to environmental policy. The Alliance will continue to work with our regional partners to advocate for fair, data-driven regulations that support both environmental and economic goals.