The Environmental Protection Agency was formed in 1970 to protect the nation's air, water and land. Last week, the EPA made a controversial decision. The agency will stop investigating 50 power plants, oil refineries and companies it had suspected of polluting the environment. EPA officials say the agency is just responding to changes the government made in the Clean Air Act earlier this year. But many Americans are concerned. They believe the changes allow too much air pollution.
"The American people will pay the price by breathing dirtier air," says Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont. EPA officials insist that they will continue to investigate and punish companies that break U.S. air-pollution laws.