Supreme Court Declines to Hear EPA Challenge

Copper company fighting air pollution regs

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a major copper company's plea to review an Environmental Protection Agency air pollution rule that set standards for sulfur dioxide, a pollutant tied to several respiratory ailments.

The justices denied Asarco LLC's request to review an appellate court decision that upheld EPA's 2010 regulation, which had drawn challenges from several states, companies and industry groups.

Asarco, which operates a major copper smelter in Arizona, in October asked the high court to review whether EPA illegally set a standard — 75 parts per billion over one hour — that it calls overly stringent.