The Bush administration decided yesterday to continue prosecuting owners of aging coal-run power plants and oil refineries that upgraded their facilities without installing pollution control devices, as required by new source review regulations. The decision was based on the recommendation of the Justice Department, which said the Clinton administration had acted reasonably in filing the lawsuits. The move comes just days after the Bush administration indicated that it was reevaluating the new source review regulations with an eye towards relaxing the rules. Enviros complained that the companies being sued would have little incentive to negotiate with the government out of court while less restrictive pollution-control rules were under review.
