White House weighs clean-air rules

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White House weighs clean-air rules

Environmentalists oppose easing standards for power plants

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 - The Bush administration is considering relaxing

clean-air standards for power plants, which environmentalists and

Northeastern states strongly oppose and the energy industry favors.

Attorneys general from six Northeastern states traveled to Washington

Tuesday to warn that they will sue if the Clean Air Act is weakened.

" WE WILL absolutely go to court to forestall these new rules and

regulations, " said New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.

Northeastern states say they are victims of Midwest power plant

emissions that drift east on prevailing winds, polluting the air and water

and exacerbating health problems such as asthma.

The White House did not immediately return a phone call seeking

comment Tuesday. But the Energy Department released a report recently that

found Clean Air Act requirements for carbon dioxide emissions from power

plants would cost companies billions of dollars and add to energy costs.

In the spring, the Bush administration began re-evaluating

requirements mandating that power companies upgrade their plants when they

put in place more stringent pollution controls.

The attorneys general said one of the most alarming revisions being

considered by the administration involves changing the definition of routine

maintenance so that it would allow massive overhauls but not require more

pollution controls.

The attorneys general also complained they have been left out of

discussions on the issue while energy lobbyists - some with close ties to

the administration - have been allowed in.

Among those lobbyists is former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot, recently

tapped by President Bush to take over the Republican National Committee.

Additionally, Bush's point man on energy policy is Vice President Dick

Cheney, the former chief executive of Halliburton Co., a Dallas-based oil

company.

In addition to Spitzer, attorneys general from Connecticut, land,

New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island were in Washington. Attorneys

general from Massachusetts, Maine and New Jersey submitted statements of

support.

Northeastern states already have sued 11 power plants in the Midwest,

alleging they are not complying with Clean Air Act requirements.

© 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved.