EPA To Roll Back Clean Air Act

In a serious blow to environmentalists, the federal government proposed significant easing of air-quality restrictions on big power plants, oil refineries and factories. The U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) recommended changes to a Clean Air Act provision, called the "new source review" rule, that requiresmajor plants to upgrade pollution controls when they modernize or expand. Representatives of the energy and oil industries who have lobbied for favorable regulatory changes said they were thrilled with the proposed changes. But critics said the move appears to be a gift to Bush's largest campaign contributors.

Thanks to California Policy Forum