The Environmental Protection Agency is taking another look at stricter federal smog requirements imposed on southeastern Wisconsin, a move that could bolster Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany’s efforts to end mandatory vehicle emissions testing in the region.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the EPA is reconsidering the decision to classify portions of southeastern Wisconsin as a “serious” nonattainment area under federal ozone standards. The designation carries additional federal requirements for the region and is tied to Wisconsin’s vehicle emissions testing program.
Any change in the region’s nonattainment status could help clear a major federal obstacle to ending the testing mandate.
Tiffany has made eliminating emissions testing a focus of his gubernatorial campaign. In March, the Republican congressman held a press conference in Greendale calling the program outdated and pledging to seek a waiver from the EPA if elected governor.
Drivers in seven southeastern Wisconsin counties — Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington and Waukesha — are generally required to have qualifying vehicles tested every two years before renewing their registrations. The program has existed for more than four decades.
Tiffany has argued the mandate unfairly punishes Wisconsin motorists for an air pollution problem the state largely cannot control.
That argument became the basis for federal legislation Tiffany introduced alongside Wisconsin Republican Reps. Bryan Steil, Scott Fitzgerald and Glenn Grothman. Their Fair Air Standards Act would allow states to petition the EPA for redesignation when ozone pollution responsible for nonattainment primarily originates outside the state.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, Wisconsin sources account for no more than 10% of ozone measured in the affected nonattainment area, with significant pollution transported into Wisconsin from outside the state.
Meanwhile, nine out of 10 Wisconsin vehicles already pass emissions inspections, according to the Republican lawmakers.
Tiffany has argued that leaves southeastern Wisconsin families paying the price — both in time and potential repair costs — for a decades-old federal mandate that does little to address the pollution actually causing the region’s ozone problems.
Now, with the EPA itself reconsidering southeastern Wisconsin’s nonattainment status, Tiffany’s push to scrap emissions testing may have a new path forward.
