Revisions are still being made to the report, including the negotiation agenda, based on comments received from municipal cross-acceptance representatives. We will accept written comments on the report until October 14, 1998. EPA officials said the publication should occur within the next two weeks, putting the projected deadline for protesting the rule around the middle of December. EPA's regional plan aims to cut pollution discharged mostly from ageing coal-fired power plants by about 85 percent by the year 2003. Ozone is created when nitrogen oxides mix with volatile organic compounds in sunlight.
Ozone can burn into human lung tissue, causing airways to become swollen or inflamed.
Environmental groups liked the ruling. But utilities, coal companies and some states like West Virginia think they have been made targets and will press for changes. States believe their economies will be hurt by the new regulation. Dan Kemp, assistant general counsel for environmental issues at the Columbus, Ohio-based utility American Electric Power , said it was likely the challenges would be heard in Washington, D.C., since the rule is national in scope. Kemp said the court would probably consolidate any legal action, but he foresaw a number of separate suits being filed.