AUTOS

Big Three Ask EPA to Hold Up Northeast Auto Plan: In a letter, Chrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. have called on Carol M. Browner, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator, to delay the agency’s expected notice that it will approve a California-based auto emissions-cutting plan for the Northeast states. The 12 states, from Virginia to Maine, compose the EPA-designated Ozone Transport Commission. The auto chieftains, who object to the states’ plan, said approval is premature. Several environmental groups say delays by the EPA already threaten current EPA-sponsored meetings with the auto makers, environmental groups and the states that are intended to avoid lawsuits and other slowdowns to cutting air pollution. Though it had been expected to act, the EPA did not give notice on the proposal last Friday or Monday.