LESS SOOT: Risking an election-year backlash from Republicans, the Obama administration is proposing new air-quality standards to lower the amount of soot that can be released into the air.
HEALTH RISKS: Environmental groups and public health advocates said the EPA was protecting millions of Americans at risk of soot-related asthma attacks, lung cancer, heart disease and premature death.
SEEN OVERLY STRICT: But congressional Republicans and industry officials called the proposal overly strict and said it could hurt economic growth and cause job losses in areas where pollution levels are determined to be too high.
