Trump's EPA Weakens Air Pollution Rules for National Parks

Conservationists warn of return to hazy skies as agency approves weaker state plans

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:05am

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The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency is working to undo decades of progress in clearing skies over the country's national parks and wilderness areas, according to conservationists. The EPA has approved weaker state plans for limiting air pollution and emissions, even rejecting proposals to close coal-fired power plants that contribute to haze in parks like Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Why it matters

The regional haze rule has significantly improved visibility in national parks over the past 25 years, but the Trump EPA is now allowing states to roll back pollution restrictions, threatening to bring back the hazy skies that obscured scenic vistas in many protected areas.

The details

The EPA has approved state plans that do not require coal plants to install additional pollution-reducing technology, as long as visibility meets benchmarks. Conservationists argue this allows plants to continue polluting without making necessary upgrades. The agency has also rejected state proposals to close coal plants, citing concerns over energy supply and reliability.

  • In January 2025, the EPA signaled it would reject West Virginia's plan for not requiring coal plants to assess pollution controls.
  • Six months later, the Trump EPA approved West Virginia's plan, adopting a new policy that state plans are acceptable if visibility improves, even without new pollution controls.
  • In 2024, the Biden-era EPA planned to reject California's plan for not considering all pollutants and not evaluating emissions from refineries and airports, but the Trump EPA approved it in 2025 because visibility met benchmarks.

The players

Ulla Reeves

Director of the National Parks Conservation Association's clean air program.

Joshua Smith

An attorney for the Sierra Club.

Michael Ogletree

The senior director of state air quality programs in Colorado.

Jim Schaberl

A former air and water quality manager at Shenandoah National Park.

Lee Zeldin

EPA Administrator under the Trump administration.

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What they’re saying

“They're blessing states that haven't done a good enough job and they're dramatically changing course on states like West Virginia, like California, like Hawaii, like Colorado. They're using these reversals and those changes to achieve their agenda of letting polluting facilities stay online.”

— Ulla Reeves, Director of the National Parks Conservation Association's clean air program

“We view this (new policy) as a backdoor way to kick the can down the road.”

— Joshua Smith, Attorney for the Sierra Club

“EPA's action is not based on a failure to meet regional haze requirements or visibility protections, which Colorado continues to meet.”

— Michael Ogletree, Senior director of state air quality programs, Colorado

“To try to resurrect coal is like digging up a grave, and this administration wants to dig up that grave. It's nonsensical and, I think, lawless.”

— Jim Schaberl, Former air and water quality manager, Shenandoah National Park

What’s next

The National Parks Conservation Association, the Sierra Club, and Earthjustice are suing the EPA over its new policy that allows states to avoid imposing pollution reductions as long as visibility meets benchmarks.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's EPA is rolling back decades of progress in clearing the air over national parks, prioritizing the interests of the fossil fuel industry over protecting the natural beauty and visibility of these public lands. This threatens to undo hard-won improvements in air quality and visibility that have benefited park visitors for generations.