EPA tightening soot pollution rules

Pressed into action by the courts, the Environmental Protection Agency is tightening its national airborne soot pollution standards.

The decision, expected to be announced Friday, comes as the Obama administration tries to straddle a fine election-year line of protecting public health while trying to gird itself against Republican and industry attacks that its regulatory agenda is hurting job creation and the economic recovery.

Sources told EnergyGuardian that EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson was to meet a late Thursday deadline to sign a proposed rule, as ordered by a federal judge.