The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its final version of a plan to reduce atmospheric haze by cutting emissions from coal-fired power plants in Wyoming.
EPA officials say the plan will improve visibility across wide-open spaces while protecting natural resources and local economies which depend on recreation.
They say the 714-page document adopts most of a separate plan proposed by Wyoming environmental regulators.
The federal plan is contentious. State officials including Gov. Matt Mead criticized an earlier version as unnecessarily expensive, costing utilities $1 billion up front and $100 million a year after that. Mead said utility customers would absorb many of those costs.
Mead says he will review the new document but still thinks the EPA plan is unwarranted because Wyoming already has a strong plan.