Duluth News Tribune reported that the federal government has missed another deadline to impose new regulations for Minnesota taconite plants aimed at reducing air pollutants that cause haze.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency officials said that the Environmental Protection Agency was under a court ordered agreement to make a final recommendation by November 10th, then November 27th and then December 10th, but it has now delayed a decision until at least mid January.
The delay may signal that the EPA is considering changes proposed by both taconite companies and the MPCA that industry supporters say will make the regulations more workable.
PCA officials have been discussing the changes with EPA officials and said that industry officials have conceded that new taconite pellet furnaces at the plants would reduce the nitrogen oxide haze causing pollution.
The rules would also apply to taconite operations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
The issue is considered important by the taconite industry, which says increased regulation could cost too much and make their plants too expensive to compete in a global iron ore market.
Environmental groups said that the regulations will bring taconite plants into compliance with the Clean Air Act by reducing pollution that causes haze over public lands like Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters. Supporters also say reducing haze will improve human health.
