So much for all the recent touting of his environmental record (via the New York Times).

The Bush administration relaxed its clean air rules today to allow thousands of industrial plants to make upgrades without installing pollution controls, arguing that other regulations were in place to reduce emissions.

Utilities, which sought the new rule, said it would allow them to make improvements that would ensure the reliability of the power supply, a prominent issue after the Aug. 14 power failure that led to the biggest blackout in the nation's history.

In one of its most far-reaching environmental actions, the Bush administration signed a rule that will allow thousands of power plants, refineries, pulp and paper mills, chemical plants and other industrial facilities to make extensive upgrades that increase pollutants without having to install new antipollution devices. The rule, for which industries have lobbied the administration for two years, could save them billions of dollars. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that more than 17,000 plants will be affected.

Critics, including several state officials, took fierce exception to this rationale, insisting that the new rule would allow increased emissions and vowing to fight it in court.