US lawmakers raise concerns on mercury, seek meeting with Leavitt

Washington (Platts)--1Sep2004

Ten US senators and House members Wednesday reiterated their request to meet
with US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Mike Leavitt and urged
the agency to adopt the toughest rule possible to control mercury emissions
from power plants. In a letter to Leavitt, the lawmakers said recent
statements by Leavitt after the agency released its report on national fish
advisories "have not accurately communicated" the health risk for consumers of
certain fish contaminated by the neurotoxin. 

The lawmakers also said that, although Leavitt has said more analysis will be
done before a final rule is issued March 15, 2005, it appears EPA does not
plan to compare its proposed cap-and-trade emission approach to the more
stringent maximum achievable control technology standard required by the Clean
Air Act to control hazardous air pollutions.

Modeling within the administration of a cap-and-trade approach has shown that
it would not achieve its stated 70% reduction until years after its 2018
target date, they said. Signing the letter were Democratic Sens Patrick Leahy
of Vermont, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Barbara Boxer of California, Hillary
Clinton, of New York, and Vermont Independent Sen James Jeffords. Also signing
the letter were House Democrats Henry Waxman of California, Ed Markey of
Massachusetts, Tom Allen of Maine, Janice Schakowsky of Illinois and Chris Van
Hollen of Maryland.

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