State Asks EPA To Reconsider New Rule

Left unchanged, state and energy company officials say a federal air pollution reduction rule announced in July could lead to rolling blackouts in Louisiana next summer.

In addition, state officials say they don't believe Louisiana should even be included in the rule.

The Cross State Air Pollution Rule addresses air pollution that creeps over state lines, with a focus on power plants.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Oct. 6 announced proposed revisions to the rule. Nevertheless, Paul Miller, special assistant to the secretary at the state Department of Environmental Quality says that while the proposed revisions give the state and power companies some breathing room, the revisions don't solve all the problems the state has with the rule.