Epa Cracking Down On Smog

The Environmental Protection Agency told 22 states from Massachusetts to Missouri Friday to reduce smog-causing pollution, especially from electric power plants, or risk the loss of federal highway funds.

The tougher air pollution requirements will have the greatest impact on Midwest and Ohio Valley states because they have done less to curtail smog-causing nitrogen oxide releases from coal-burning power plants. Many Northeast states will have to make only modest improvements because they already have made significant reductions.

States will have two years to develop pollution control plans for the additional reductions and until 2005 to slash emissions by amounts ranging from 19 to 44 percent.

EPA Administrator Carol Browner said the new pollution caps are needed to stem the flow of smog-causing chemicals across state and regional boundaries, and to help communities to meet the more stringent air quality health standards announced last summer.

The 22 states are Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.