Washington, Nov 22, 2002 - Today's recommendations by the Administration for reforming the New Source Review (NSR) regulations under the Clean Air Act will have long lasting and devastating effects on our environment, stated Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH).

The New Source Review (NSR) permit program passed, as an amendment to the Clean Air Act, in 1977 is designed to protect the public from air pollution. NSR provisions set a limit on how long more than 17,000 older industrial facilities such as power plants, refineries and industrial factories can operate without adopting modern air pollution control technology. The law requires that when these plants make "major modifications" that would result in an increase in total emissions, they must install state of the art pollution control technology. Without such a provision, the nation's industrial base would be forever "grandfathered", or excused, from having to meet modern clean air requirements.

Today, Kucinich, a member of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs, issued the following statement:

"Today's announcement is just another in a long list of lapses in environmental oversight by this Administration that will have long lasting and devastating effects on our nation's natural resources.

"NSR is a vital program that protects the public from excessive air pollution. The regulations recommended today by the Administration will severely undermine efforts started over thirty years ago, with the passage of the Clean Air Act, to ensure the safety of the air we breathe. If enacted, today's recommendations will have long lasting and damaging effects on our environment and health for generations to come.

"Clean air is vital to every human being. The federal government should be working to strengthen public health protections under the Clean Air Act, not trying to undermine their effectiveness."