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Federal study to look at coal plants’ impact on Austin air

Tuesday, March 18, 2008
by Elise Hu
KVUE News

State lawmakers are looking at smog solutions, now that federal clean air standards have been strengthened.If Austin has trouble meeting the new smog standards, the Environmental Protection Agency will require it to develop a plan to cut down on pollution.Local leaders say Austin's pollution is not entirely its fault because coal plants to the north can affect air quality.So lawmakers are applauding a new federal study -- written into the federal budget by Congressman Chet Edwards -- on the impact the coal plants make.The EPA could punish Austin for failing to meet the federal standards. Those punishments could mean less federal highway funding and stricter emissions standards for businesses who want to locate here.State lawmakers want to avoid the consequences."We are not able to achieve the health standards, do the economic development that we want to do if we find ourselves in a situation where we are in nonattainment, and that is why we are very pleased that Congressman Edwards has been able to do what he has done, and we will finally get a study that deals with cumulative impacts," said State Senator Kirk Watson, (D) Austin.The study of the coal plants begins in April.Watson says he hopes the report will be ready before the next legislative session starts.