INHOFE REFINERY PERMIT STREAMLINING PLAN FACES SLIM PROSPECTS

Senate environment committee chairman James Inhofe's (R-OK) scaled-back proposal to streamline the permitting process for new and expanding refineries faces stiff opposition from Democrats, making it unlikely to gather enough support to pass in an election year, industry and other sources say. Inhofe's March 7 proposal would allow governors to opt in to a program in which EPA, state and local regulators consolidate refinery permitting and approve or deny permits within 360 days for new refineries or 120 days for...