EPA Rejects Texas Clean Air Plan

By KRWG News

Texas – The Environmental Protection Agency says it won't approve portions of Texas' air-pollution permitting program that don't meet the federal Clean Air Act.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the agency announced its intentions to reject aspects of the plan. Final decisions about changes to the plan will be made soon under a recent agreement with Texas businesses.

Texas has major air-pollution problems, thanks to pollution from power plants, industry and cars. Houston and Dallas have never been within Clean Air Act requirements for ground-level ozone pollution.

The EPA and Texas environmental regulators have long been at odds over the state's permitting process.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.