Fri Nov 22, 5:26 PM ET

By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration on Friday eased clean air rules to allow utilities, refineries and manufacturers to avoid having to install expensive new anti-pollution equipment when they modernize their plants.

The long-awaited regulation issued by the Environmental Protection agency was immediately attacked by environmentalists, state air quality regulators and attorneys general in several Northeast state who promised a lawsuit to try to reverse the action.

But EPA Administrator Christie Whitman rejected critics` claims that the changes would produce dirtier air, saying in a statement they would encourage emission reductions by providing utilities and refinery operators new flexibility......

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