The administration said the changes would encourage plant improvements that would clean the air. "The need for reform is clear and has broad-based support," says Christie Whitman, Environmental Protection Agency administrator. "The current rules have deterred companies from implementing projects that would increase energy efficiency and decrease air pollution." But critics denounce the changes. They say the current, tougher rules require factories to make investments in pollution control equipment when they modernize.
The dilemma of the existing rules, experts say, is that new technologies are available that would make plants marginally cleaner or more productive. But installing those improvements would require that the owner bring the plant up to modern pollution standards. Thus, small improvements are discouraged.