Some Texas legislators are asking state environmental regulators to solve a permit dispute with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that has left some of the nation's largest oil refineries in operating limbo.

The bipartisan group of lawmakers made the plea in a July 23 letter. E-mail correspondence obtained by The Associated Press indicates that oil industry leaders lobbied for the letter.

The letter is signed by 46 legislators, including 29 Republicans, many of whom support Gov. Rick Perry and his battle against the EPA.

The crux of the debate is over so-called flexible permits, which set a general limit on how much pollution a facility can release.

The EPA has barred the permits, saying they violate the Clean Air Act.

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