New environmental legislation introduced to cut air pollution

New environmental legislation is going to be introduced in the US to cut the amount of air pollution released from coal-fired power plants.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced yesterday (July 6th) that over the next four years, the new rules will reduce sulphur dioxide emissions by 71 per cent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 52 per cent from 2005 levels.

Over 31 states will be subject to the new regulations, which will monitor the gas emissions of power plants.

EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said: "We're working to limit pollution at its source, rather than waiting for it to move across the country."

When the changes are in full force in 2014, the group hopes that they will cut the number of premature deaths by 14,000 a year, by reducing the causes of heart attacks and other poor air quality-related illnesses.

The EPA has recently been working closely with BP to limit the damage caused to the environment by the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Posted by Lauren Steadman