Southern Highland Reader

REGIONAL–We’ve written before about the current administration’s efforts to relax clean air regulation, and about specific EPA rule changes that would “make it easier to build coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and other major polluters near national parks and wilderness areas.”

These rule changes would likely have a significant impact on the Smokies – already the most polluted national park - and on the southern mountains in general.

The EPA is pushing to finalize these rule changes before year’s end, even with many of its own senior staff members in open opposition.