EPA requires more haze reduction across S. Utah

SALT LAKE CITY -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requiring better pollution controls at two of Utah's oldest coal-fired power plants to reduce haze that the agency says has cut views by half across national parks and wilderness areas.

EPA Regional Administrator James Martin rejected parts of Utah's haze-reduction plan in a notice earlier this week that will be published shortly in the Federal Register.

Utah Division of Air Quality Director Bryce Bird says the state submitted the plan four years ago and never heard anything from the EPA until now.

Bird says Utah will be required to mandate more modern emissions-scrubbing technology at a pair of PacificCorp power plants in Emery County.