After years of being labeled one of Michigan’s few ozone “nonattainment” areas, Berrien County is poised to receive a cleaner environmental report card. The proposal would end a designation that has followed Berrien County since 2018, when EPA determined ozone levels exceeded federal limits. Air quality alerts will still be issued when ozone levels become elevated during hot summer weather, and state and federal regulators will continue monitoring pollution levels. EPA says returning Berrien County to attainment status would provide faster, more predictable permitting while maintaining existing pollution controls and continued air quality monitoring. Years of improvementAccording to EPA, Berrien County, Muskegon County and the Detroit region were designated as ozone nonattainment areas in 2018 after monitoring showed pollution levels above the national standard.