corrected - update 1-u.s. files clean air lawsuit against westar energy - auto air cleaner

(
Correct year in paragraph 6)(
Company comments, additional details)
February 4, by Bernie Woodell, Los Angeles (Reuters)-The U. S.
On Wednesday, the government filed a clean air lawsuit against Westar Energy WR.
Claims utility has updated coal in Kansas
There are no power plants with modern pollution control installed. The U. S.
The US Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency charged Westar's 1,857-
Megawatt Jeffrey Energy Center in St
For more than 10 years, Mary in Kansas has violated the Clean Air Act.
A lawsuit filed in the United StatesS.
The Kansas City District Court said Westar violated the "New Source Review" section of the Clean Air Act.
Since 1994, Westar has faced heavy fines for government charges of emissions violations. The U. S.
Since its first submission in 1999, the government has resolved 16 new source review proceedings.
Tuesday's claim and Taki Tools Co. , Ltd. were resolved in 2007 (EONGn. DE)
Agreed to pay a fine of $1.
4 million, spending $0. 135 billion on new pollution
Combat equipment.
A Justice Department spokesman declined to estimate the fines and other fees Westar could face.
The Justice Department said the biggest fine in a new source review suit was $1.
4 billion with US power in October 2007 (AEP. N).
Westar, based in Topeka, Kansas, said it has worked hard to control emissions from Jeffrey's big factory, which can power about one person.
5 million households at full load operation.
"We are a good environmental administrator and that's why we have invested nearly $0. 5 billion over the past few years to eliminate up to 90% of the emissions that EPA has targeted in its complaints.
"We also expect to invest more than $1 billion in additional equipment over the next five years," Westar said in a statement . ".
"Many of EPA's allegations relate to factory modifications that were carried out 10 to 15 years ago when they were considered to be in compliance with EPA regulations.
Whether there is a lawsuit or not, we are making the air cleaner. "Said Westar.
The Ministry of Justice and the Environmental Protection Bureau said in a press statement that,
Overall, thermal power plants produce more pollution than any other industry in the United States.
They account for nearly 70% of sulfur dioxide emissions per year and 20% of nitrogen oxide emissions.
Coal emissions-
Power plants have adverse effects on the health of asthma patients, elderly people and children.
For a long time, environmental activists have claimed that utilities are trying to bypass the strict "new source review" of emissions by demanding major upgrades to day-to-day maintenance ".
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice claimed that Westar did not use "the best available emissions-
Control technology at Jeffrey's plant "to limit emissions including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which helps to form fine particulate matter, smoke and heavy rain.
Two months ago, the Bush administration abandoned plans to rewrite new energy censorship policies, which would allow some existing power plants
Cement Plant, automobile plant, refinery
Expand without the need to install new pollution controls.
The three coal-
Jeffrey's launch began operation on 1978, 1980 and 1983.
Westar, Kansas's largest power company, serves 675,000 power customers in the state, with a power generation portfolio of 6,500 MW. (
Bernie Woodell reports;
Edited by Marguerita Choy)