TEXT OF STORY

SCOTT JAGOW: The Bush Administration wants to impose new air quality rules on oil refineries and also factories. The Environmental Protection Agency is taking public comments about this right now and those comments are pouring in. Here's Nancy Marshall Genzer.

---

NANCY MARSHALL GENZER: The rules are part of the EPA's New Source Review program governing factory upgrades.

Environmentalists say they'll be a new source of pollution. Among other things, the new rules would let manufacturers separate improvement projects when measuring emissions.

Frank O'Donnell of Clean Air Watch says that, and modified rules on replacing equipment, are a gift to industry.

FRANK O'DONNELL: "These are a series of new loopholes that will lead to more pollution, and more public health damage."

But National Petrochemical and Refiners Association President Bob Slaughter says the new rules are just meant to clarify federal clean air laws.

BOB SLAUGHTER: "There was so much confusion over what the requirements were in the past that people undertook projects that made a lot of sense and didn't increase emissions, only at their own peril."

Manufacturers may be waiting a while for the new rules. Other changes to Clean Air regulations have been challenged in court.

In Washington, I'm Nancy Marshall Genzer for Marketplace.