Illinois: New Rules on Mercury Emissions (New York Times) Coal-fired power plants in Illinois will be required to reduce their mercury emissions by 90 percent by 2009, according to strict new state rules. The rules, which exceed federal standards requiring a 78-percent reduction in mercury emissions by 2018, are part of a plan intended to reduce toxic air pollution introduced by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich earlier this year. [News Source]

Monitors find high pollution levels near school (The Sacramento Bee) Students at Arden Middle School, smack next to busy Watt Avenue, are breathing higher levels of toxic car exhaust particles than those immediately downwind of the 52-track Roseville train yard, the single largest generator of diesel exhaust in the Sacramento area, according to an air pollution study scheduled for release Wednesday. [News Source]

Citizens concerned over ethanol plant advances.

New Mexico Environment Department representatives said Tuesday they’ve found no reason to deny the proposed Clovis Ethanol an air quality permit.

[News Source]

Rolling tests of emissions often wrong. The remote sensing technology used to catch smoke-belching vehicles is "ineffective," frequently passing polluting cars and falsely catching ones that would pass a traditional tailpipe test, a Colorado legislative audit shows. [News Source]

Rolling tests of emissions often wrong. The remote sensing technology used to catch smoke-belching vehicles is "ineffective," frequently passing polluting cars and falsely catching ones that would pass a traditional tailpipe test, a legislative audit shows. [News Source]

Panel to consider scaling back auto emission testing program. A Colorado air quality panel this week could make life easier for thousands of drivers in the metro area by scaling back on requirements of the much-maligned auto emission testing program. [News Source]

Clean air coalition shot down. Both the City of Paris and Lamar County on Monday turned thumbs down on a request to join the Texas Clean Air Cities Coalition. [News Source]

Mount Vernon re-emphasizes opposition to fast-tracking plants. The Mount Vernon City Council opted to continue membership in a coalition of more than 30 cities and counties opposing "fast tracking" permits for 11 new coal-fired power plants in Texas. [News Source]

EPA mileage estimates going down. Car buyers will face a new form of sticker shock when they browse dealer lots next year: Mileage estimates will be down, reflecting the way people actually drive. [News Source]

Standard for cement kilns criticized. Environmental groups are upset over a new federal effort to cut mercury emissions at dozens of cement plants around the country, saying it defies a court order to toughen controls on the highly toxic air pollutant. [News Source]

Spain’s Ence announces new Uruguay plant location. Spanish paper pulp company Ence announced on Tuesday a new location for its planned Uruguay plant after Argentina complained it would harm tourism and the environment at its original site on the Argentina-Uruguay border. [News Source]