Noah Alcala Bach writes in the Texas Tribune about the EPA's settlement of a a lawsuit the Sierra Club brought over pollution from an East Texas coal-burning power plant. The agreement requires the EPA to weigh in on the state’s plan to improve air quality in Rusk and Panola counties. In a nutshell:The Sierra Club accused the EPA of delays in approving or rejecting the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's plan, which the Sierra Club deemed inadequate and urged the EPA to reject. Under the settlement, the EPA must either accept Texas' plan or issue its own improved plan to address air quality in the counties by December 13, 2024. Exposure to these pollutants can lead to respiratory problems, exacerbate existing respiratory conditions like asthma, and increase the risk of heart and lung diseases.

Source: The Guardian July 24, 2023 16:50 UTC