Federal appeals court stays EPA's rejection of Arkansas' ozone plan

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A federal appeals court on Thursday halted the Environmental Protection Agency’s rejection of Arkansas' plan to comply with federal rules designed to assure that the state’s coal-fired power plants and industrial sites don’t pollute the air in other states.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay of the EPA's decision in a one-page order without elaboration. Arkansas in February sued over the EPA disapproving the state’s plan to meet “good neighbor” obligations under the Clean Air Act.

The EPA rejected plans from Arkansas and 18 other states.

“The court’s order blocking the Biden administration’s disapproval prevents the administration from imposing a one-size-fits-all federal implementation plan (FIP) that would kill Arkansas jobs and threaten our power grid,” Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement.

A 2015 EPA rule blocks stat...