EPA REFINERY SETTLEMENTS FRUSTRATING ACTIVISTS' LITIGATION STRATEGY

EPA's recent settlements with refineries could preempt lawsuits brought by activists against the facilities alleging numerous Clean Air Act violations, since the settlements address many of the same issues, but achieve weaker controls than the activists are seeking, environmentalists involved in the suits say. Representatives of several environmental groups, including the National Refinery Reform Campaign and the Environmental Integrity Project, will meet with EPA officials in mid-July to raise their concerns about the agency's refinery settlements. Activists who have several...