EPA Pondering Legal Action Against 22 Utility Companies On Coal Burning

[hatrack]

Gosh, what do you think they'll do, with it being Friday and all?

WASHINGTON - "A total of 22 U.S. electric utilities could be sued for harmful emissions from aging coal-fired plants if the Bush administration pursues cases recommended by Environmental Protection Agency staff, according to an internal EPA list obtained by Reuters this week.

The EPA has forwarded 14 cases to the U.S. Justice Department, and could send another eight cases within 30 days, the list said.
The Justice Department has not yet committed to pursue the cases, many of which have likely sat idle since 2001, when the Clinton-era department finished filing cases against nine utilities for violating the Clean Air Act. Many of the original cases are still unresolved.

Emissions from older coal-fired power plants can aggravate asthma, chronic bronchitis and pneumonia.

The list provides a previously undisclosed snapshot of pending, unfiled EPA actions against U.S. utilities. The list was first reported by Greenwire, an on-line industry newsletter, this week."

EDIT

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/26048/story.htm