Reuters News Service
Wednesday December 1, 1999
By Patrick Connole
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Only one of 10 U.S. metropolitan areas required to submit pollution fighting plans this year have met government goals to crack down on smog into next millennium, the Environmental Protection Agency said on Wednesday.
The 10 urban areas, which have been in violation of federal ozone standards, are mandated under the Clean Air Act to tell the EPA how they will reduce pollution and move from ''non-attainment'' status to meet federal ozone standards by the middle of next decade.
But EPA Administrator Carol Browner said on Wednesday that of the 10, only the plan forwarded by the Springfield area of western Massachusetts was ``sufficient.''
Nine other metropolitan areas -- Houston, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Hartford, Milwaukee, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. -- must do more to address how they will cut down on smog generated mainly by automobiles, heavy industry and power plants.
``Each of the plans we reviewed shows a strong commitment to reducing harmful air pollutants that cause smog,'' Browner said, but most did not fully account for future growth in pollution created from vehicles or smog that blows in from other places.
``The key is we're not rejecting anyone's proposal, our own analysis shows they've done a lot, but need more,'' she said, noting the EPA would continue to work with the states and cities on improving their proposals, which become final over the next two years.
Browner said most cities planned to cut emissions from ''traditional'' sources like power plants and large industry. New York City, however, said it would switch city buses to natural gas as part of its effort, she said.
Of the 10 areas, Houston and New York City had the most challenging problems ahead of them, Browner noted, adding, ''Both just start out with more pollution.''
Houston scrapped an old pollution fighting plan and submitted a revised plan to the EPA only a few weeks ago.
In addition to working with cities to curb their pollution, EPA will soon:
-- issue a final rule on drastically reducing tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks;
-- move forward with new regulations mandating cleaner fuels, cutting sulfur emissions;
-- and fight in the courts for a more protective smog standard, after a legal setback this May that put on hold plans to tighten air quality standards.
EPA this month also sued seven major electric utilities for allegedly failing to comply with clean air laws when modifying plant operations at 32 coal-powered facilities.