"Refineries and power plants that need permits for their air pollution could face less scrutiny from the EPA as the agency considers dropping a 20-year-old enforcement priority.

As part of its assessment of which environmental violations will most need attention in fiscal years 2020 through 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency is weighing whether new source review permitting should be dropped from the list after 21 years.

Making the permitting process easier has been a top priority of the Trump administration.

“This latest maneuver to downgrade enforcement further is part of an EPA vendetta against sensible health safeguards that prevent industries from increasing danger air pollution wildly,” John Walke, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Clean Air, Climate & Clean Energy Program, told Bloomberg Environment on Feb. 5. “Americans deserve better than lax EPA law enforcement.”"

Amena H. Saiyid reports for Bloomberg Environment February 5, 2019. [2]