E.P.A. Will Not Withdraw Its Mercury Plan

[papau]

The EPA announced it is not withdrawing "its plan for regulating mercury from coal-fired power plants" despite pressure from some Democrats and environmentalists to do so (but final rules delayed to 3/05)

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/30/politics/30MERC.html

E.P.A. Will Not Withdraw Its Mercury Plan
By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Published: April 30, 2004


ASHINGTON, April 29 — Rebuffing pressure from Democrats and environmental groups, the Environmental Protection Agency announced on Thursday that it would not withdraw its plan for regulating mercury from coal-fired power plants.<snip>

Senator John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is among the 45 senators and 10 state attorneys general who have asked the agency to withdraw the proposal.

The proposal allows power plants to buy and sell the rights to emit mercury, with a target of reducing emissions 70 percent by 2018. Environmental groups argue that the Clean Air Act calls for strict plant-by-plant controls by 2007.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Isn't it hard to accept that those with the least concern for people

Have hijacked the controls during a time only the wisest direction can even begin to steer away from total destruction? What a filthy, rotten shame.

[seasat]

2. The industry wrote this rule.

We make this accusation all the time and a lot of times are blown off as being reactionary. However, I remember a report that came out not too long ago that showed the new EPA rules had sections that were taking verbatum from an industry memo. We'll probably find more of these industry directives if we ever get the release of the Cheney energy policy meeting notes.

[baby_bear]

3. The preamble language contained the industry's take

The preamble to regulations is the key to what the promulgating Agency's motives are. The fact that lobbyists' language was used to justify capping and trading of mercury tells much. Mercury is not a good candidate for caps and trades, scientifically speaking, because much of it is deposited near the stack. This is environmental injustice at its worst. Like lead, mercury pollution will befall the poor and least politically influential among our population.

s_m