Texas and federal officials learned nine months ago that documents long forgotten in their agencies' files raised the possibility of similar violations by Alcoa. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission is investigating Alcoa's actions but hasn't reached any conclusions, executive director Jeff Saitas said. Environmental Protection Agency officials said they also planned to investigate this year. However, the rules that govern power plant renovations, called new source review, are under attack from electric utility and coal-mining industry representatives. They have told Congress and the White House that the rules are slowing down power plant expansions.
Environmentalists say the rules are crucial to improving the nation's air.
That's the equivalent of 10 pounds for each of Texas' 21 million residents. How Texas should rein in such pollution has dominated the state's environmental agenda since President Bush, as governor, backed a voluntary system in 1999. The Senate on Monday passed a measure that would accelerate a cleanup. The two chambers will try to resolve the difference. Mr. Hodson said Alcoa's work was repair, not rebuilding.