Merry Christmas! Bush camp weakens mercury protections! Ho Ho Ho!

By Eric Pianin, Washington Post, 12/3/2003

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is working to undo regulations
that would force power plants to sharply reduce mercury emissions and
other toxic pollutants, according to a government document and
interviews with officials.

ADVERTISEMENT
The Nov. 26 document makes the case that the Environmental Protection
Agency, under President Clinton, misread the Clean Air Act's
requirements and that there are less onerous ways to reduce the
emissions.

Until recently, the EPA was set to issue new rules this month
requiring the nation's 1,100 coal- and oil-fired power plants to
install equipment to achieve the maximum possible reductions in
mercury and nickel emissions, which can cause neurological and
developmental damage in humans. The plan has drawn fierce resistance
from industry groups.

Now, the White House and EPA administrator Mike Leavitt are
considering rescinding a December 2000 EPA ruling requiring the
reductions

in favor of a more flexible enforcement system.

The alternative, the document says, would be a program allowing
utilities to buy emissions "credits" from cleaner-operating plants.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar...missions_rule/