EPA is weakening implementation of a Clean Air Act program geared toward clamping down on pollution that contributes to hazy conditions and poor visibility in national parks and wilderness areas.
In a draft rule set for publication in Friday’s Federal Register, agency officials signaled that they are adopting a new policy that will effectively make it easier for states to meet long-term haze reduction goals for Shenandoah National Park and dozens of other federal recreational lands without imposing new requirements on industry.
While a power company had urged the change, EPA believes that the new policy meshes with the purpose of regional haze program regulations, “which is achieving ‘reasonable’ progress, not maximal progress, towards Congress’ natural visibility goal,” the draft rule says.
As part of that shift, the agency is now retreating from its previously proposed rejection of West Virginia’s latest haze reduction plan and instead seeks to approve it.
