Soot Contamination Gains Much More Attention

Under a court order, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed tightening exposure

to the particulate pollution that threatens the elderly, people with heart disease, and children.

The move was welcomed by environmental groups, an important part of President Barack Obama's base of support. But it will give more fuel to Republicans who have staged sharp attacks on the EPA as the November 6 presidential and congressional elections draw nearer.

The standard would cut fine-particle soot to between 12 and 13 micrograms per cubic meter of air from 15 micrograms. The EPA said the cost of compliance would be more than offset by healthcare savings.

At the moment only six U.S. counties, including ones in California, Arizona, Alabama, Michigan and Montana are out of compliance with the standard, the EPA said. Diesel exhaust from trains and ships, as well as construction operations, have made soot a problem in those places.

But industry groups fear far more counties that contain oil and gas plants and other heavy industry could eventually violate the standard and be forced to add pollution control.

"We are concerned that it could come at a significant economic cost and lost investments and limit our ability to produce the energy (ore beneficiation) our nation needs," said Howard Feldman, the head of regulation at the American Petroleum Institute, the main lobby group for the oil industry. Feldman said the rule could eventually hit power plants and refineries in the Midwest, Texas and the East Coast.

Republicans in Congress have fought a suite of EPA air pollution rules this year, saying they will add billions of dollars in costs to heavy industries and kill jobs. It has mostly been an uphill battle as Democrats control the Senate.

"Despite the ongoing economic challenges facing our country, the Obama-EPA continues to roll out strict environmental standards that cause severe economic strain on state and local communities, millions of lost jobs, and skyrocketing energy prices," said Republican Senator James Inhofe.

The Obama administration was forced to act on the standard ahead of the November 6 election after California, New York and nine other states on the coasts sued the EPA to act.

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