Group Claims State Undercharges Polluters

Thursday, March 8th 2007, 10:56 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A nonprofit environmental group says Oklahoma is losing out on millions of dollars because it doesn't charge high enough fees for companies who pollute the air.

The Washington, D.C. based Environmental Integrity Project says the low fees cost Oklahoma $2.7 million in 2002.

The fees are to cover the cost of monitoring for pollution and enforcing anti-pollution laws.

But state Department of Environmental Quality director Steve Thompson says the fee is adequate to cover the cost of administering the program.

And Thompson says he sees no connection between the amount of the fee and the quality of the air.