New source review revisions fail to satisfy.(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revisions to New Source Review Program, part of Clean Air Act of 1977)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls its revisions to the New Source Review Program--part of the Clean Air Act of 1977--a move to increase energy efficiency and encourage emissions reductions. Environmentalists call it a license to pollute, and some affected industry groups complain that it sidesteps the biggest issue of all: deciding which plant modifications trigger requirements to install costly pollution-control systems.

This issue is addressed by a proposed regulation, which applies mostly to electricity generating facilities and which likely will be adopted without major changes, attempts to clarify those activities that constitute routine maintenance, repair, and replacement, the EPA said. One provision in the proposed rule …