EPA to Loosen Clean-Air Rules in National Parks

(NEWSER) - The Environmental Protection Agency today granted California the right to set its own strict emissions standards, an about-face from Bush-era policies, Reuters reports. In a sly rebuke to the previous administration, the EPA said the move rested on a “traditional legal interpretation of the Clean Air Act.” California first requested permission to go beyond federal standards in 2005; the waiver was denied in 2008. More»

Federal judges reverse position on clean air rule, giving Obama time to replace it

(NEWSER) - A federal appeals court has decided that a flawed clean air law is better than no clean air law, the New York Times reports. Reversing an earlier judgment, the court ruled to temporarily reinstate the Clean Air Interstate Rule—which limits emissions from coal-fired power plants in 28 states—while the EPA works to fix the rule’s “fundamental flaws.” The rule goes into effect January 1. More»

Rules make allow power plants nearby

(NEWSER) - Clean air rules likely to be changed this summer are causing serious concerns about future pollution at some of America's most spectacular national parks, reports the Washington Post. The changes will pave the way for 28 new coal-fired power plants near ten parks, according to a report supported by some National Park Service officials. Parks already have "impaired visibility" because of pollution, and the changes represent a major "setback," said one official. More»

EPA cuts down on criminal cases, says focus is on biggest offenders

(NEWSER) - The EPA has taken a decidedly less aggressive tack in criminal cases, the Washington Post reports, a trend advocates fear will embolden polluters. The number of prosecutions, new investigations, and total convictions have all dropped by more than a third. One ex-official, who resigned in protest, blamed the Bush administration, saying agents couldn’t count on support from the White House. More»

10 states could face less stringent limits on emissions

(NEWSER) - The EPA finalized a new rule to curb industrial pollution this summer; three months later, the agency has proposed to loosen the restrictions in 10 of 27 affected states. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, meant to cut power-plant emissions that can blow across state lines, has faced sharp criticism from the industry and the states themselves, who argue the measure could cut jobs and rattle the power supply. More»