Ruling May Bolster Activists' Bids To Cite Air Monitoring Data In Lawsuits

Environmentalists say a federal appellate court ruling could enhance activists' ability to cite clean air monitoring data in pursuing alleged environmental violations, though industry attorneys are downplaying the significance of the decision. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit issued a summary judgment ruling Nov. 22 in Sierra Club, Alabama Environmental Council, Inc. v. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) over alleged opacity violations -- a measure of particulate matter pollution -- at a power plant in Colbert County, AL...