ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 1, 1994                   TAG: 9412010096
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

EPA SAYS VA. RISKS SANCTIONS

The administration of Gov. George Allen was notified Wednesday that Virginia must give citizens a chance to challenge air-pollution permits or face sanctions under the federal Clean Air Act.

Allen said he would fight the ruling by Environmental Protection Agency Regional Director Peter H. Kostmayer.

Conservationists countered that Allen would be wasting taxpayers' money to appeal a decision that gives citizens legal standing to challenge state air-pollution permits that they believe would endanger their health or property.

At issue is a Virginia law that says citizens can go to court to block an air-pollution permit only if they can show an immediate financial loss.

Kostmayer said the law is too restrictive and does not comply with a Clean Air Act requirement for public participation.

"EPA believes it is imperative that public participation play an integral role in governmental processes aimed at protecting human health and the environment," Kostmayer said in a letter dated Wednesday.

Under the order, Virginia has six months to submit an acceptable air-permit program or face possible loss of federal transportation funds or restrictions on new industries.

Becky Norton Dunlop, Virginia's secretary of natural resources, said the Allen administration was studying an appeal through administrative remedies, a lawsuit or legislation from the new Republican-controlled Congress. 


 by CNB