Environmental Groups Sue EPA Over Refinery Emission Standards

A coalition of national and community environmental groups has sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to overturn a new rule that allegedly allows refineries and other industrial plants to emit higher levels of noxious chemicals when starting up, shutting down and experiencing equipment malfunctions, without informing area residents.

The groups filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. late Monday. The new EPA rule took effect in April.

Jim Pew, an attorney with Earthjustice in Washington who is representing the groups, said that the new rule gives the EPA discretion in asking refineries and other plants for contingency plans for dealing with breakdowns and making those plans public.

Pew also said that under the rule, those plants would not be legally liable for failing to abide by their own plans.

LA Times