EPA 'tying up' new air quality regulations

The US' Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is concluding the implementation of new rules that will allow oil refineries and coal power plants to operate in close proximity to rural areas, it has been reported.

Under the revised rules, air regulation would be monitored in rural areas less frequently and calculate average emissions annually rather than on a daily and weekly basis.

According to the Washington Post, the publication has received documents showing evidence of opposition to the plans from senior officials.

Mark Wenzler, director of clean air programmes for the National Parks Conservation, said: "The administration's staunch commitment to coal is so deep that they are willing to sacrifice our national parks on the way out of the door."

In other air quality developments in the US, health officials in California have urged residents of Orange County and Los Angeles to stay indoors to avoid the unhealthy air currently being generated by forest fires in the region.