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EPA diesel rules aim at boat, train exhaust

By TIMES WIRES
Published March 3, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed stringent rules Friday that would eliminate most of the smog and soot caused by diesel-burning trains and boats.

Over the next quarter-century the regulations - which cover 40,000 marine vessels and nearly 21,000 diesel locomotives - would cut these engines' annual emissions of nitrogen oxide, a key ingredient in smog, by 80 percent and fine particulate matter, or soot, by 90 percent.

CBO disputes Bush's budget surplus figure

President Bush's proposed federal budget probably would not produce its advertised surplus of $61-billion in five years, according to new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. Instead, Bush's budget plan would produce a $9-billion deficit by 2012 if it were to be enacted, the CBO said.

The main reason for the difference in the estimates is a more optimistic White House revenue projection. CBO sees revenues $119-billion lower in 2012 than does the administration's Office of Management and Budget.

But in a federal budget totaling about $3-trillion, the differences between the CBO and White House estimates are quite modest. Underscoring the difficulty of longer-term budget projections, CBO says there's an equal chance that the Bush budget would generate a surplus in 2012.

Libby jurors question reasonable doubt

Jurors asked for a definition of reasonable doubt as they completed a shortened, eighth day of deliberations in the perjury trial of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. They were to get an answer when they return Monday morning.

[Last modified March 3, 2007, 01:24:19]