U.S. States Undercharge Polluters by $50 Million, Report Says

[Shallah Kali]

http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12350

Those states either charged emissions fees lower than the minimum federal government standard or put a limit on how much each polluter was compelled to pay in those fees, according to the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project.

"Only the polluters come out ahead of the game under an arrangement where states let them off the hook rather than doing what they are supposed to under federal law," the group's Eric Schaeffer said at a telephone news briefing.

The Environmental Protection Agency requires states to pay nearly $40 for each ton of emissions of the most noxious air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and smog-forming volatile organic compounds.

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The environmental group said at least 18 states collected fees that fell below the federal minimum standard. That is permitted only if states can show they have enough money to perform the functions required under the law.