Abstract
A REGULATORY CHANGE MADE by EPA a year ago is hampering federal enforcement efforts at some 97 coal-fired power stations, says a recent report from the agency's Office of Inspector General (OIG). The report estimates that 1.75 million tons of sulfur dioxide and 629,000 tons of nitrogen oxides emitted by these plants annually could be cut if EPA vigorously enforced—instead of relaxed—Clean Air Act provisions. The OIG examined changes that EPA under the Bush Administration made to the act's new source review (NSR) provision. The provision was enacted in 1977 but not vigorously enforced until the last months of the Clinton Administration. NSR requires older plants to upgrade pollution control equipment when making process equipment changes beyond what is needed for routine maintenance. It affects some 17,000 U.S. plants, including chemical companies, but coalfired utilities most strongly opposed NSR and lobbied hard for its alteration. Taken together, coalfired plants produce nearly 60% ...
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