The Environmental Protection Agency is planning a major overhaul of its use of cost-benefit analysis for air pollution regulations, a move that environmentalists say will tilt the scales against regulations to reduce pollution.

In a proposal released Thursday, the EPA said it would conduct a cost-benefit analysis for every major air pollution rule-making and, to the extent possible, would make the data available to the public. The proposal would also require the EPA to report separately the public health and welfare benefits specific to the section of the Clean Air Act under that it is regulating, according to an agency fact sheet.