Traveling Pollution Theory Tested as Utah Blames Asia’s Bad Air

Pollution drifting across the Pacific Ocean is to blame for air quality problems in the Salt Lake City region, say officials in Utah, where the air has deteriorated enough that the metro area soon could have to meet more stringent requirements under the Clean Air Act.

The state is calling upon a seldom-used Clean Air Act provision to avoid the stricter National Ambient Air Quality Standards designation for ozone—a long-shot bid that reveals gaps in the complicated quest to enforce protective ozone rules in western regions.

If EPA agrees with Utah’s submission, other states could try getting out of cleaning ...