By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The Environmental Protection Agency has passed a new rule meant to cut down on pollution that drifts over state borders.
The Clean Air Interstate Rule will require 28 states, including Missouri, to each come up with a plan to cut nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
Douglas Aburano, with EPA's Region 5, says it will help St. Louis and other areas that don't meet air quality standards get in compliance.
"The Clean Air Interstate Rule is a tool that will help areas meet those attainment goals so it's basically something that will help the state's out in meeting the eight-hour ozone standards and fine particulate SIPs (state implementation plans)," Aburano said.
The St. Louis region has been designated an EPA non-attainment area for both ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution.
The rule, referred to as CAIR, would allow states to use a cap and trade program where plants that don't meet emission limits can borrow credits from other cleaner plants.
Aburano that will not lead to clusters of heavy polluters.
"Because of the way sources would most cost effectively control their mission they look at their biggest and dirtiest power plant, or whatever source you're looking at, because that's where you're going to get the biggest bang for your buck," he said.
Each of the 28 states affected will have to come up with a plan to meet the emission limits.
Aburano says the new rule should help St. Louis reach the EPA's new air quality standards on smog by the 2010 deadline.