Ohio EPA concerned about smog rules

COLUMBUS (AP) — A recent appeals court decision striking down federal rules to cut power-plant pollution in half has Ohio officials saying they will have to readjust plans to reduce smog and soot.

Officials with the state Environmental Protection Agency are poring over the ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to determine how to proceed.

Ohio faces a June 2009 deadline from the U.S. EPA to reduce smog across parts of the state and an April 2010 deadline to cut soot emissions.

Power plants in Ohio emitted more than 1.4 million tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in 2005, the most recent year available. Cars and trucks emitted 301,000 tons of the pollutants.

“We don’t know yet how much of a problem we’ve got,” said Bob Hodanbosi, the Ohio EPA’s air pollution chief.

Federal officials estimated that the rules would prevent thousands of asthma and heart attacks across Ohio and more than 1,200 deaths a year. Ohio EPA officials said the rules would help them avoid imposing unpopular exhaust-pipe tests or mandating more expensive cleaner- burning gas for cars and trucks.