EPA Proposed New Hampshire Exit from Ozone Region
The EPA released plans to allow New Hampshire to leave the Ozone Transport Region and remove its emissions testing.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Asthma
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On August 11, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed granting New Hampshire's request to exit the Ozone Transport Region. The plan also includes conditional approval for the state to remove its vehicle emissions inspection program from federal air quality plans.
Why it matters
The proposal follows state projections that nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions will decline without the program. Furthermore, the EPA determined that New Hampshire does not significantly contribute to ozone issues in downwind states.
All 12 of the state's air monitoring sites recorded ozone levels at 65 parts per billion between 2022 and 2024, staying below the federal 70 parts per billion limit. State projections anticipate that emissions of nitrogen oxides will fall by 16%.
The players
Environmental Protection Agency
This is the federal agency responsible for overseeing national air quality standards and environmental regulations.
Kelly Ayotte
She serves as the Governor of New Hampshire and signed the legislation to repeal the state's emissions testing mandate.
Gordon-Darby
This equipment company previously sued the state to block the repeal of the emissions testing program.
The details
New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed legislation in June 2025 to repeal the emissions testing program, which subsequently ended in early 2026. The EPA's current proposal requires the state to submit a follow-up plan within one year that lists the inspection program as a backup measure for air quality control.
Timeline
June 2025: Gov. Ayotte signed the law to repeal the emissions testing program.
December 24, 2025: New Hampshire requested EPA approval to leave the region.
Early 2026: The state's vehicle inspection program ended.
August 11, 2026: The EPA published the formal proposals.
September 25, 2026: Deadline for public comments on the EPA proposals.
Deeper Dive
This move marks a departure from the multi-state coordination mandated by the Ozone Transport Region. It reflects a shift toward allowing individual states to manage air quality programs based on localized emission projections rather than regional requirements.
Residents are no longer required to participate in the state's vehicle emissions inspection program following its termination in early 2026. Drivers may notice changes to vehicle maintenance requirements as the state transitions away from the mandated testing framework.
The takeaway
The EPA proposal reflects a broader regulatory trend of states seeking to exit regional pollution control zones based on localized compliance data. Residents should remain aware that the final removal of these programs depends on the EPA finalizing both the exit petition and the plan.
What happens next
The EPA aims to issue a final decision regarding the petition before the end of 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the relationship between air quality and respiratory health in the New Hampshire Asthma section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Caller.
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