S.C. leaders to protest clean-air rules for York

Gov. Mark Sanford, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Rep. John Spratt will meet today with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Mike Leavitt to complain about stricter air pollution standards proposed for York County.

The concern centers on new federal smog standards that business leaders fear could chill industrial expansion in suburban Charlotte cities, such as Rock Hill.

The tighter restrictions can require tougher pollution controls on new industry and on new road construction.

Charlotte faces tighter federal ozone restrictions and some leaders there say it’s only fair to include York County.

“We are not the problem” with air pollution in metropolitan Charlotte, Spratt spokesman Chuck Fant said. “We are located near the problem.”

— Sammy Fretwell