ENVIRONMENT

EPA Inaugurates New Offshore Air Pollution Limits: Oil and gas platforms, drilling-rig ships and other energy development operations in California and Alaska will be subject to new regulations issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The rules, covering pollution sources 25 miles from land or less, will bring offshore facilities in line with pollution limits on the nearby shore. While the regulations apply to the Atlantic Coast, off Florida and the Arctic--or “any source of offshore air pollution in any industry authorized or regulated under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act”--the only operational sources are in California and Alaska. Rigs and platforms in the Gulf Coast off Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama--regulated by the Minerals Management Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior--are exempt.