Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) is praising the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for reversing its air regulations on Maricopa County, calling it "a win for common sense, sound science, and the people of Arizona."
In 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration imposed air quality standards in Arizona targeting PM 2.5 emissions, a particulate matter created by air pollution that harms health. However, the state legislature opposed the rule, with State Senator Warren Petersen (R-14) calling it "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion."
Additionally, Rep. Biggs noted in a February 2025 letter urging the rule's reversal that the pollution was not caused directly by residents, but from natural or international sources, a fact the EPA itself acknowledged.
"Yet, when presented with this evidence, the Biden Administration's EPA explained that they did not have faith in the science and would only follow standard protocols," Rep. Biggs previously noted.
The Trump Administration has listened to the concerns and has announced that it is repealing the rule, not changing Maricopa County's ozone designation from "moderate" to "serious."
"The decision by the EPA is a win for common sense, sound science, and the people of Arizona," Biggs said in a celebratory statement. "For years, bureaucrats in Washington ignored the reality that the overwhelming majority of Maricopa County's air pollution comes from natural sources or international transport. Imposing stricter local regulations would have done nothing to meaningfully improve air quality while crushing economic growth in one of the fastest-growing regions in the country."
The Arizona congressman further emphasized that, with Maricopa County a critical hub for industries such as semiconductors and defense contractors, "we cannot afford to strangle that progress with ineffective mandates," and thus, he continued, "I'm grateful the EPA recognized the facts and followed the law."
"I will continue working with President Trump's Administration to ensure Arizona's economy remains strong while pursuing practical, results-driven environmental policies."
