Gov. Mead Tells EPA State Should Regulate Haze

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead is telling federal regulators that the state should take the lead in regulating regional haze.

Mead recently wrote to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency commenting on the federal agency's disapproval of part of a state plan to address air pollution. The governor says the federal plan would cost more and not provide any benefits over the state plan.

The federal agency intends its regional haze rule to restore the view in national parks, national forests and wilderness areas to their natural states by 2064.

Mead's office says that the EPA's disapproval of part of Wyoming's plan would result in extra controls on seven power plants but give no perceptible improvement in visibility. Mead says forest fires are the biggest source of haze in the state.