STATES, ACTIVISTS CONCERNED ABOUT EPA PUSH FOR 'PREDICTIVE MONITORS'

State air regulators and environmentalists are concerned about EPA proposals that could increase the use of what are known as predictive emission monitoring systems (PEMS), which relies on measuring various inputs to determine a facility's emissions rather than monitoring what is actually coming out of a smokestack. These groups worry that such a system will result in less transparent emissions monitoring, hampering enforcement and possibly leading to worse air pollution that is difficult to detect. EPA is in the midst...