EPA Agrees To Deadline For Ruling On State, Western Pollution Plans

U.S. EPA is agreeing to a proposed consent decree with environmentalists that would require the agency to no later than mid-2011 approve state implementation plans (SIPs) to reduce interstate ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in California and western states or impose a federal implementation plan (FIP) to cut emissions if EPA deems the plans inadequate. The Nov. 10 proposed settlement between EPA and WildEarth Guardians -- which sued EPA to force action on the plans -- lays out a...