As PA pollution declines, fees do, too

(Pittsburgh) -- Air quality is getting better in Pennsylvania, and state leaders say that's led to such a decline in pollution fees that they can't cover the cost of permitting programs.

Department of Environmental Protection leaders say because power plants and factories are polluting less, they pay less in fees that are used to run a program that permits such industries.

DEP wants to increase the fees that big polluters pay, from $56 per ton of emissions to $85.

The department has scheduled a public hearing on the topic for March 5th in its Pittsburgh office.

The program applies to 560 facilities statewide.

The president of the Harrisburg-based Electric Power Generation Association, Jake Smeltz, says they don't plan on fighting the proposed increase.