Coalition formed to fight ozone reclassification

A coalition of area business and civic leaders is forming to fight a recent air quality classification change leveled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) negatively impacting large portions of southeastern Wisconsin – areas encompassing all of Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties as well as portions of Washington, Waukesha, Racine, Sheboygan and Kenosha counties. 

The EPA recently changed the area’s ozone nonattainment classification from moderate to serious, forcing businesses to implement costly and burdensome changes to comply with these onerous new requirements. This is despite most pollutants causing a spike in ozone levels originating in Illinois and Indiana.

---

"This change forces businesses to shoulder undue costs to comply with the Clean Air Act never intended to impact southeastern Wisconsin in the way they are today,” said Dale Kooyenga, President of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. “While we fully support measures to achieve cleaner air embedded in the law, the reclassification does not address the root cause of elevated ozone levels, with over 90% of the responsible emissions originating across the state line.”

Ironically, ozone concentrations on Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan shoreline have decreased by 22 percent over the past two decades.  

Upon taking effect, businesses impacted by the classification change would be forced to implement stricter emission control measures and enhanced permitting requirements – costly steps that compromise bottom lines.

In addition to harming existing businesses and the thousands of area residents they employ, the change in classification is already affecting the ability to attract new business to southeastern Wisconsin. 
​
“This has consequences for economic development in our region,” said Kooyenga. “In fact, these recent actions have already negatively impacted our business development efforts.”

Coalition members – including the MMAC, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, The New North, Waukesha County Business Alliance, Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Racine County Economic Development Corp., Sheboygan County Economic Development Corp., Sheboygan Chamber of Commerce and the Commercial Association of REALTORS Wisconsin – are working with a bipartisan group of Wisconsin legislators in asking for a delay in enforcement and a subsequent amendment to the Clean Air Act to address the regulatory challenges facing our region.