Air Quality
Regulatory standards, monitoring, and emission limits for ambient air pollutants—including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter—to protect human health and ecosystems.
Foresight tracks Air Quality developments and surfaces the alerts most likely to matter before they turn into missed deadlines, recalls, or escalation work.
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Last updated
13 May 2026, 12:38
Latest Air Quality alerts
The most recent regulatory and guidance signals tracked by Foresight
Northern Ireland: DEFRA Launches 'Get an Air Pollution Assessment' Service
In May 2026 DEFRA launched a GOV.UK guidance-backed online service that enables consultants and regulators in Northern Ireland to run standardised air pollution assessments for developments affecting sensitive ecological sites. This tool supports planning, permitting and strategic planning decisions and signals more structured, data-rich air quality evidence expectations that could later be extended across the wider UK.
United KingdomCalifornia ARB Schedules Webinar on Draft Report to Reduce Aircraft Taxiing Emissions
California’s air regulator has released a draft feasibility study on zero-emission aircraft taxiing at major state airports and scheduled a June 2026 public webinar to present findings and gather stakeholder input. The work will inform CARB’s 2027 airport and aviation emission-reduction proposals, signalling potential future requirements for airlines, airports, and ground handlers to deploy low- and zero-emission taxiing solutions.
United StatesCalifornia ARB Expands Johnson Matthey CRT+ DPF Verification for Stationary Diesel Engines
In May 2026, the California Air Resources Board expanded the verified engine family coverage for Johnson Matthey’s CRT+ diesel particulate filter used on stationary diesel engines, adding model year 2011, 2024, and 2025 engine families under its existing verification Executive Order. This widens the set of stationary generators and pumps that can use the CRT+ filter to meet particulate-emission requirements in California, giving facilities more flexibility when planning compliant retrofits and equipment turnover.
United StatesGermany BGH Remands VW EA288 Diesel Defeat-Device Case for Reassessment of Difference Damage (VIa ZR 1738/22)
In May 2026, Germany’s Federal Court of Justice partly overturned a lower court judgment in case VIa ZR 1738/22 and remanded a VW Golf EA288 “thermal window” defeat-device lawsuit to reassess potential difference-in-value damages under the EU vehicle emissions framework. The ruling reinforces that breaches of type-approval rules can trigger civil liability and ongoing diesel litigation risk for Volkswagen and other manufacturers, even where vehicles remain roadworthy and recalls have been completed.
GermanyRomania National Environmental Guard Reports Bodycam And Drone-Assisted Environmental Enforcement Actions
Romania’s National Environmental Guard has reported March 2026 enforcement actions using bodycams in Alba county, drones nationwide and intensive air-quality inspections in Bucharest, resulting in sizeable fines, activity suspensions and several criminal cases. These developments point to a more technology-driven, punitive enforcement approach that heightens compliance risk for mining, construction and municipal operators across Romania without changing the underlying legal requirements.
RomaniaLouisiana DEQ Opens Public Comment on Sabine Pass and CP2 LNG Permit Applications
Louisiana’s environmental regulator has opened public hearings and public comment on proposed air and water permits for the Sabine Pass and CP2 LNG terminals, with hearings scheduled in late May and mid June 2026. These permit steps signal continued progress for large LNG export capacity in Louisiana and may introduce new emission and discharge obligations that operators, investors, and suppliers should review before permits are finalised.
United StatesSouth Korea National Assembly Passes Six Climate‑Energy‑Environment Bills on Drought, Wildlife and Circular Economy
On 7 May 2026, South Korea's National Assembly passed six major climate, energy and environment amendment bills strengthening state powers on water reuse, wildlife protection, resource circulation, vehicle emissions management and support for environmental industries. These coordinated changes will tighten obligations and incentives for utilities, local governments, electronics and automotive retailers, industrial operators and environmental service providers, requiring early planning for new infrastructure, circular-economy investments and compliance systems ahead of staged entry into force from promulgation and July 2027.
South KoreaUS EPA Issues Guidance To Streamline Clean Air Act Title V Operating Permit Reviews
In May 2026, the US Environmental Protection Agency issued non-binding guidance to streamline Clean Air Act Title V operating permit reviews by allowing concurrent EPA and public review and encouraging expedited use of the 45-day EPA review period. This clarification gives permitting authorities and major stationary sources greater certainty and faster permitting timelines without changing underlying legal requirements, which can materially affect project scheduling, capacity expansions, and coordination of New Source Review and Title V permitting.
United StatesNetherlands Government Outlines Industrial Emissions and PFAS Measures in Action Agenda "Industry and Neighbours"
The Dutch government has answered parliamentary questions on the Industry and Neighbours Action Agenda, clarifying how it will implement the revised EU Industrial Emissions and Air Quality directives and manage PFAS, steel slag and other industrial pollution through pilots, permit reforms and research running into 2026–2027. This signals that operators of large Dutch industrial installations should prepare for stricter default BAT-based permitting, closer health-driven scrutiny and potential partial PFAS discharge bans, even though most measures will first be tested via pilots before translating into binding national rules.
NetherlandsUS EPA Proposes Redefining "Begin Actual Construction" in Clean Air Act NSR Permitting
EPA has proposed revising Clean Air Act New Source Review regulations to clarify when construction of non-emitting components can begin without an air permit and to codify definitions of "begin actual construction" and "pollutant-emitting activities". If adopted, the rule would streamline preconstruction permitting for power, data centre and manufacturing projects while leaving core emissions-control obligations under the Clean Air Act intact, potentially shortening project timelines without weakening air-quality protections.
United StatesEuropean Parliament ITRE Draft Opinion Seeks to Delete IED EMS Article and Introduce 10% BAT Derogation Presumption
In May 2026 the European Parliament’s ITRE committee issued a draft opinion on COM(2025)0986 that would delete the Industrial Emissions Directive’s new EMS article, extend permit review intervals and introduce 10% cost-based presumptions for setting emission limits and granting BAT derogations. If carried through the co-legislative process, these changes would materially soften upcoming EMS and BAT requirements for many EU industrial and waste installations, lowering near-term compliance costs but potentially delaying environmental performance improvements and altering long-term investment planning.
European UnionMinnesota MPCA Opens Comment on Reissuing Air Emissions Permit for Northern Natural Gas Faribault Facility
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has opened a public comment period on its intent to reissue the air emissions permit for Northern Natural Gas Co’s Faribault facility, with comments due by 10 June 2026. This is a routine, site-specific permit action, but it signals MPCA’s ongoing scrutiny of natural gas infrastructure emissions and provides a reference point for similar facilities’ permitting expectations in Minnesota.
United StatesCalifornia DPR PREC Reviews Draft Linuron Risk Assessment and Air Monitoring Network Expansion
At its 20 March 2026 PREC meeting, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation presented a draft human health risk assessment for the herbicide linuron and plans to expand its pesticide Air Monitoring Network, with public consultation running from March to May 2026. These steps signal heightened regulatory scrutiny of occupational and community pesticide exposures in California, suggesting linuron registrants and agricultural users may face future mitigation requirements and closer monitoring of applications in high-use areas.
United StatesCELA Urges Ontario to Refuse ArcelorMittal Dofasco ECA Renewal Without Air-Pollution Improvements
In March 2026, the Canadian Environmental Law Association urged Ontario’s environment ministry to refuse ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s air Environmental Compliance Approval renewal for its Hamilton steel mill unless major air-quality improvements and a credible coal phase-out plan are secured. This intervention signals growing regulatory and community pressure on large industrial emitters’ decarbonisation and emission controls, which could influence permit conditions, enforcement priorities, and investment decisions for heavy industry in Ontario.
CanadaUS House Committee on Rules Reports H.Res. 1224 Rule for Clean Air Act Ethanol Waiver Bill H.R. 1346
The US House Committee on Rules has reported H. Res. 1224, a floor rule that schedules consideration of Clean Air Act ethanol waiver bill H.R. 1346 and provides for any resulting changes to be bundled into the broader agriculture bill H.R. 7567. This procedural move signals that nationwide adjustments to summertime gasoline volatility limits and small refinery renewable fuel credits are entering an active decision-making phase and should be closely monitored by fuel producers, refiners, and retailers.
United StatesAlabama ADEM Proposes Administrative Order for Mancha Hardscapes, LLC Over Open Burning
On 10 May 2026, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management published a public notice for a proposed Administrative Order against Mancha Hardscapes, LLC over unauthorised open burning near residences, proposing a $2,000 civil penalty and opening a 30-day public comment and hearing-request period. This enforcement action underscores Alabama’s focus on open burning controls and signals that contractors handling construction and green waste face financial penalties and closer scrutiny if they ignore air quality and open burning regulations.
United StatesSlovakia Issues Preliminary Information on Amending Decree 248/2023 on Stationary Air Pollution Sources (PI/2026/108)
Slovakia’s Environment Ministry has issued a preliminary information notice (PI/2026/108) for a draft amendment to Decree 248/2023 on stationary air pollution sources to transpose new EU industrial emissions and pollutant reporting rules by July 2026. Operators of combustion plants, waste incineration facilities and intensive livestock installations should expect tighter emission conditions, an expanded list of regulated air pollutants and enhanced reporting obligations, with a formal consultation planned from June 2026.
SlovakiaCastilla y León Opens Public Consultation On Environmental Authorisation For Queserías Entrepinares Cheese Plant
Castilla y León has opened a public consultation on the integrated environmental authorisation for Queserías Entrepinares’ large cheese production plant in Valladolid, published in the regional official gazette in May 2026. This step frames the future permit conditions for a high‑capacity dairy installation under national and regional IPPC rules, so affected stakeholders should assess potential operational impacts and consider submitting comments within the 30‑day window.
SpainDNREC Advises on Delaware City Refining Repairs and Elevated Sulfur Dioxide Emissions
DNREC has warned that planned repair work at Delaware City Refining will temporarily shift pollution controls, driving significantly higher sulphur dioxide emissions for about four weeks while expanded air and fenceline monitoring tracks community exposure. This points to an expected period of permit exceedances and continued enforcement focus on air quality around the refinery, heightening operational and reputational risk for refinery operators and nearby industrial emitters.
United StatesNorth Carolina DEQ Invites Comment on Marine Fisheries Meeting and Industrial Wastewater/Air Permits
North Carolina is inviting public input on the Marine Fisheries Commission’s May 2026 meeting and on draft NPDES wastewater and Title V air permits for several industrial facilities, with comment windows running into mid May and early June. Operators and affected stakeholders should review these notices promptly, as the resulting permit decisions could tighten discharge and emissions limits and influence future compliance and investment planning in the state.
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