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Published September 30, 2011, 10:30 AM

Judge OKs deal on "haze" pollution in West

A federal judge has approved a deal requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize by next year plans to reduce haze-causing pollution from coal-fired power plants and other sources in four Western states.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A federal judge has approved a deal requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize by next year plans to reduce haze-causing pollution from coal-fired power plants and other sources in four Western states.

The reductions are required under the Clean Air Act. They were first announced more than a decade ago, but have yet to be widely enacted.

The order from U.S. District Judge Christine Arguello in Colorado, issued Tuesday, follows a settlement between the EPA and environmental groups.

The Environmental Defense Fund, WildEarth Guardians and National Parks and Conservation Assocation sued the agency for failing to address haze-causing emissions in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and North Dakota.

In the Western U.S., haze is blamed for reducing visibility by half versus natural conditions, to a maximum of 60 to 90 miles.

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