An effort to reduce the number of tests that pollution emitters must pass in North Carolina has been scaled back.

The House Commerce Committee recommended a bill Wednesday that would give industries other options to show officials that their pollution sources won't exceed state emission control standards. The bill now goes to the House floor.

A version sought by business interests that passed another House panel this week would have exempted polluters from state standards already covered under federal rules.

Conservation groups argued the bill would dismantle the state's air toxins program and would make it harder to protect public health from emissions.

Molly Diggins with the state Sierra Club said the amended bill is a reasonable alternative that doesn't damage the air quality program.