New Smokestack Rules

  • The EPA is expected to release new rules aimed at cleaning up sulfur dioxide pollution. (Photo courtesy of NASA)

This week, the U-S Environmental Protection Agency will release much-anticipated new rules limiting sulfur dioxide in the air. As Tanya Ott reports, it’s almost certain to result in years of legal battles:

Transcript

This week, the U-S Environmental Protection Agency will release much-anticipated new rules limiting sulfur dioxide in the air. As Tanya Ott reports, it’s almost certain to result in years of legal battles:

When sulfur dioxide spews from smoke stacks and diesel engines it can cause
acid rain, but that’s just the first problem.

“It can cause asthma attacks in children. It can send people to hospital emergency rooms. It can even convert to other chemicals in the air that lead to premature death.”

Frank O’Donnell is president of the non-profit environmental group Clean Air Watch. He says existing rules, which have been around since the 1970s, have a loophole that allows high levels of sulfur dioxide over short periods of time. The new EPA rules will likely close that loophole and significantly restrict the amount allowed into the air.

The oil industry and coal-burning power plants have lobbied against the new rules. They don’t want to pay the billions of dollars it will cost to clean up their smoke stacks.

For The Environment Report, I’m Tanya Ott.

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