Air Quality

In December of 2022, Vermont adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, which incorporates California motor vehicle emissions standards. The rule is intended to accelerate the transition to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by requiring manufacturers to gradually increase deliveries of new zero-emission vehicles for sale in Vermont. The ACT rule helps protect public health and air quality and will give Vermonters increased choice to integrate electric vehicle and hybrid technologies into their fleets.

Motor vehicles, while an essential mode of transportation in a rural state like Vermont, are a major source of air pollutants that are associated with a variety of public health and environmental threats. A vehicle that possesses malfunctioning emission control systems can emit 50% more pollution than when it was originally manufactured.

This SIP revision is to protect and improve visibility levels in Federal Class I Areas in Vermont as well as in other states affected by air contaminant emissions originating in Vermont.  The only Class I Area in Vermont is the Lye Brook Wilderness Area within the Green Mountain National Forest.  This SIP revision establishes the progress goal and long term strategy for the second ten-year regional haze planning period (2018 – 2028) to achieve the goal of reaching natural background visibility levels by 2064.