Appeals court sides with EPA on air pollution limits

WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal appeals court says the Environmental Protection Agency complied with the law in deciding which areas of the country failed to meet federal limits on smog-forming pollution.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Tuesday rejected challenges from states, industry and environmental groups that claimed the agency was being either too strict or too lenient in determining which areas satisfied federal ozone restrictions.

States including Mississippi, Indiana and Texas had challenged the EPA's finding that certain areas within their borders were violating the standard. A finding of noncompliance means states have to spend money to reduce ozone levels.

The Obama administration recently proposed even stricter emission limits on ozone than the standard that President George W. Bush put in place in 2008.

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