Rep. Workman Applauds U.S. EPA Proposal to Redesignate Northeast Ohio as Meeting National Air Quality Standards

State Representative Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown) is pleased to share that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed redesignating the Cleveland Area to "attainment" for ground-level ozone, following three consecutive years of air quality data showing the region meets the national health-based standard.

If finalized, this proposal will streamline the air permitting process, making it faster and more predictable, while continuing to uphold strong protections for public health. The Cleveland area includes Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit counties.

"This is a significant win for Northeast Ohio and for the residents of Portage County. Achieving attainment reflects years of progress in improving our air quality while supporting responsible economic growth," said Workman. "This redesignation will help streamline the permitting process, giving our local businesses more certainty while maintaining strong protections for public health."

Representative Workman noted that while this designation marks meaningful progress, additional work remains. She supports continued efforts toward the eventual elimination of E-Check requirements and is a proud co-sponsor of House Bill 115, the E-Check Ease Act.

The U.S. EPA plans to publish the proposal in the Federal Register and open a 30-day public comment period. Details on how to submit comments, including the deadline, will be announced soon.

Rep. Workman joined Governor Mike DeWine, U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, U.S. Congressman Dave Joyce, State Representative Bill Roemer, and U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel, along with other local leaders, at a press conference in Cleveland to celebrate this announcement.

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