Twelve States Sue US Over Utility Pollution
USA: October 29, 2003
WASHINGTON - Twelve U.S. states and the District of Columbia sued the Bush administration this week to block Clean Air Act changes for coal-fired utility companies that the states say will weaken air pollution standards and harm public health.
The Environmental Protection Agency this week implemented rules to allow U.S. coal-fired utility companies and oil refiners to significantly expand aging facilities without installing pollution-reduction equipment.
Emissions from coal-fired plants can aggravate asthma, chronic bronchitis and pneumonia.
The 12-state coalition called the changes in the EPA's rules a major rollback of the Clean Air Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the federal appeals court in Washington, asserted that only Congress can make such major changes in air pollution policy. (snip/...)
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