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The federal Environmental Protection Agency, reacting to runaway growth in Los Angeles, has called on the city to impose its own tough anti-smog rules or lose more than $116 million in sewer grants, including money to prevent spills into Santa Monica Bay.
Los Angeles and EPA officials both said Wednesday that negotiations are continuing. Under the most drastic outcome, Los Angeles-as well as nearby cities that use its sewer system-could be forced to halt new construction by private developers.
However, both EPA and city officials said the talks have remained cordial and are more likely to lead to less severe steps, such as mandatory ride-sharing to reduce air pollution.
The situation is the deepest involvement of federal officials to date in the environmental problems of Los Angeles. It has the potential for far more impact on the lives of ordinary citizens than the EPA order to clean up sewage discharges into Santa Monica Bay, which was the impetus for a $3.4-billion program to modernize the city sewer system.
"I think this is going to have regional implications," said Mark Abramowitz, an activist with the Coalition for Clean Air who recently won a lawsuit that will force stricter local enforcement by the EPA.
In essence the EPA is demanding that the Los Angeles City Council live up to promises made...