EPA Rule Slashes Cancerous Air Toxics in Chemical Plants (1)

More than 200 chemical manufacturing facilities face new hazardous air pollution requirements to quell the release of cancer-causing chemicals, according to a new rule finalized on Tuesday.

The standards, which take aim at petrochemical plants that line communities at high risk for cancer, finalize amendments to National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants and New Source Performance Standards that govern the synthetic organic chemical manufacturing industry.

Environmental justice advocates hailed the new mandates at an emotional press conference in EPA’s headquarters on Tuesday, praising the agency for signing the new protective limits, which EPA Administrator Michael Regan told attendees would ...