US environmental regulators withdraw a proposed rule to change how industrial emissions are counted

US environmental regulators have withdrawn a proposed rule that would have changed how industrial facilities count their emissions when making upgrades. This means the existing, stricter rules for calculating emissions from facility changes will remain in place.

The proposed rule would have made it easier for industrial facilities to make changes without triggering a full environmental review. By withdrawing it, the US Environmental Protection Agency is keeping the current system, which requires more scrutiny for projects that could increase pollution. This means industrial operators will continue to face higher hurdles and costs when modifying their plants, especially in areas with poor air quality.