Clean-Air Advocates Criticize GOP Gas Bill

Measure Set For Passage Friday Would Weaken Pollution Laws, Experts Say

By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 6, 2005; Page A08

A House bill ostensibly aimed at easing the nation's energy crisis would dramatically weaken pollution laws by relaxing environmental standards on both oil refineries and aging power plants, several clean-air experts said.

The GOP's Gasoline for America's Security (GAS) Act -- which is expected to pass the House tomorrow -- would ease permitting rules for oil refineries, instruct the president to designate new refinery sites on at least three retired military bases and relax air pollution controls on thousands of industrial facilities across the country.