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September 8, 2008 5:15:18 AM CDT

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National Park, Meet Coal Smog

Posted Apr 23, 08 4:03 PM CDT in Business,  Science & Health,  US 

(Newser) – The Environmental Protection Agency is set to change its rules to allow the construction of coal power plants in previously off-limits areas near national parks, the Christian Science Monitor reports. A draft revision to the Clean Air Act would soften standards of pollution in “Class 1” areas (ie, national parks) and how much pollution a proposed plant would add.

Under the new rules, firms looking to build a plant would judge their emissions with a yearly average—where the current standard looks at pollution spikes on a day-to-day basis. In addition, pollution from emitters that have been granted exceptions would be excluded from evaluations of how much smog an area can stand.

Source Christian Science Monitor

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The base of a giant redwood tree frames this view of other redwoods near the Bohemian Grove at the Muir Woods National Monument in Marin County, Calif., Monday, March 31, 2008.   (AP Photo)
"It's hard to see this proposal as improving air quality in the parks," a parks official says of plans to allow coal-fired power plants closer to national parks.   (AP Photo)
Smoke stacks from the NRG power plant located just outside of Jewett, Texas tower over Texas Highway 39, Nov. 28, 2007.   (AP Photo/Nick Simonite)
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Bush administration  • Environmental Protection Agency  • national park  • Clean Air Act  • coal power  • environmental damage  • power plant


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