But under the law, routine plant maintenance is exempt. Starting in 1999, the EPA concluded that many utilities and oil refineries were circumventing the regulations by redefining major overhauls as routine. It began suing Midwestern and Southern utilities for threatening the public health. Live Talk Lineup Industry officials argue the rules are too onerous. If you can t replace a component that breaks without going through a two-year process, then it s very difficult to operate, said Brownell.
Environmental lawyers dismiss such concerns.
Two others, Cinergy and Virginia Electric, agreed to tentative settlements. The lawyers fear that as a result of the administration s broad review, some settlements already agreed upon as well as several others in the works are in doubt.