Bill would loosen Clean Air Act reviews and boost state flexibility

What does this do?

The CLEAR Act would change the Clean Air Act by lengthening the national air quality standard review cycle from 5 to 10 years and letting the EPA weigh achievability, not just health, when setting limits. It gives states up to a year to fix pollution plans before federal intervention, drops some extra rules for extreme ozone areas, updates how wildfire-related pollution data is excluded from measurements, and shields states from penalties tied to pollution from outside their control. It also expands the EPA's advisory science committee to include more state representatives and economic impact review.

Who does it affect?

State environmental agencies, industries subject to air pollution rules like power plants and factories, and communities in ozone- or particulate-affected and wildfire-prone areas.

Why does it matter?

Looser timelines and added economic considerations could slow how quickly pollution standards are tightened or enforced. Supporters call it added flexibility; critics may view it as weakened enforcement.

Where does it stand?