AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal court has sided with Texas and industry groups suing to block Environmental Protection Agency regulations meant to reduce haze in wilderness areas.
Texas sought a stay against “regional haze” rules in February, after the EPA rejected as inadequate Texas and Oklahoma’s plan to meet regulations on air quality in natural areas.
In a ruling released Friday, the New Orleans-based U.S. Fifth Circuit Court blocked regional haze rules.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hailed the decision Tuesday, saying federal regulations would have cost power plants and other industry concerns $2 billion in upgrades.
The regulations are blocked while Texas argues that the EPA overstepped its authority by rejecting its anti-pollution plan.
Last week’s Fifth Circuit ruling also said there was a “strong likelihood” of that larger argument succeeding.
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