Waukesha County & Others Across Wisconsin Being Reclassified to Serious Nonattainment for Ozone

Waukesha County, along with several other Wisconsin counties, is being reclassified from “moderate” to “serious” nonattainment for ozone. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published this reclassification, which is effective January 16, 2025, which will require the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to implement stricter controls on nitrogen oxides (NOX) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)—the pollutants that contribute to ozone formation. This will impact businesses by lowering the threshold for what constitutes a “major source” of air pollution, requiring more businesses to obtain permits and comply with stricter emission limits. Much of the ozone in Wisconsin comes from out-of-state emissions, from Chicago and Northern Indiana. These new measures will make it more costly to do business in southeast Wisconsin and will do little to help the affected counties meet federal air quality standards. You can find more information on permitting requirements from the DNR. Read More