White House Seeks to Soften Mercury Rules

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29807-2003Dec2.html

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.

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

Until recently, the EPA was on track 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 severe neurological and developmental damage in humans. The plan has drawn fierce resistance from industry groups and their congressional allies, who say the new regulations would be excessively costly and should be softened or delayed beyond the 2007 target date.

Now, the White House and EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt are considering rescinding a December 2000 EPA ruling, which concluded that mercury emissions are a public health menace that requires power plants to meet a "maximum achievable control technology" (MACT) standard to sharply reduce toxic pollutants.

...more...

what did we expect? EPA in this mal-administration stands Environmental Plunder Associates

[mobuto]

1. I so love the Bush Administration

I mean come on, how could we tell our temperatures if it weren't for the mercury in the air?

Carcinogen, carschminogen, you mean to tell me heavy metals aren't safe to breath? Sounds like liberal whining to me...

cough

[saigon68]

8. OH GOODY ----Now all children can have 6 fingers and toes

It will help them---- especially in Bangladesh,-
operate the Machines, that make those cheap shirts for WALMART.

[Cronus Protagonist]

11. Imagine the music a 6 fingered piano player could play

Youse lieberals never look on the bright side....

LICK BUSH Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[saigon68]

13. Computer programming would be quicker too

Just think of ALL the possibilities.

[SeattleDem]

18. or just be autistic

all those folks worried about mercury derivatives in vaccines causing autism had better start paying attention to environmental mercury!

If indeed mercury, a known neurotoxin, is linked to autism, it sure as heck is coming from the huge doses in our environment more so than the miniscule doses in vaccines.

[proud patriot]

2. Well isn't that lovely

:grr:

[kysrsoze]

3. Fucking Pricks

My God, those poor coal companies may have to install more equipment to filter the air. What will those nasty tree-huggers make them do next? BTW - the industry with the most firms whose pensions funds are under water is none other than - you guessed it, energy.

Is nothing sacred to these motherfuckers?

[proud patriot]

22. Nothing is sacred

they have their bunkers WTF do they care
about the Children and the people of the United States .

This proves to me they are not KEEPING US SAFE :grr:

[Jester_11218]

4. Policies of death.

If you have not noticed yet...every single policy, healthcare, medicine costs, military interventon, environmental, etc. that this administration has put forth, has or will result in death.

Bombs, global warming, toxins, no access to heath care, closing of VA hospitals...

They are practicing global population control or they are trying to fulfill prophecy of the end of the world.

They are killing us all.
Literally.
Murder.

[JackSwift]

5. Mercury? Apparently they are planning on

Fixing the vote electronically or losing. If the public gets wind of this (and that's a big if), they RePukes are finished. Mercury?

[dusty64]

6. I'm surprised this wasn't

released on Friday. I don't expect a big deal to be made about this, it never really is anymore. Our Planet is gleefully being turned into a toxic cesspool and the corporate media isn't about to report it. These evil money grubbing corporate assholes are doing everything in their power to remove ALL environmental protections in order to suck up more cash and our bought and paid for government gladly goes alone. Do these assholes think they have enough $$$ to buy a new planet to live on?

[Kinkistyle]

7. creating a country of zombies?

"Until recently, the EPA was on track 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 severe neurological and developmental damage in humans."

I see the plans for creating a drooling populace that does what its told by Big Brother is well in place.

[truthisfreedom]

9. hey, you guys, shut up. everybody knows mercury is GOOD for you.

it's SHINY. and it's a liquid at room temperature. it's PRETTY. PRETTY IS GOOD! we should be collecting mercury and keeping it close by for luck!

[teryang]

10. The thief in chief acts like he got a dose

...or two of mercury at one time or another.

[saigon68]

12. NAH he got a dose of Lead

In his brain and in his ass.

[ignatius]

14. All you Nader people who see no difference between the Repugs and us,

please take note. This administration has the WORST environmental record ever, in addition to all other matters of life and death they have screwed up.

Disgusting,the world deserves better.

[TexasPatriot]

15. i was reading a different article

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/science/1203/03mercury.html

my favorite line:
"The revised plan under consideration would reduce the annual output of mercury pollution from power plants from the current 48 tons to about 34 tons. The amount of reduction is even less than the power companies had proposed."

You know, when even the power companies are proposing eliminating something toxic, and the environmental PROTECTION agency suggests its ok to do less...

Hope all those nascar dads like flipper babies.

[tabasco]

16. Hey, if you can't see it, it can't hurt you, right?

The repugs understand and exploit the ignorance of the American people. As hard as we try to make people understand the importance of these protections, there will always be those who call us environmental whackos. We must drive on and fight for the environment and future generations, and fight to oust the corrupt Bush cabal.

[davhill]

17. The Free Market will solve everything

If to many people die from the poisoning everybody will just switch to a competing power company and the polluting company will go bankrupt, right? Then congress will pass a law preventing people from suing the companies.

[underpants]

19. The cost of treatment is greater than cost of prevention

In that way yes the market will solve this problem. Unfortuneately the "market" are ALL taxpayers who will foot the bill.

Welcome to DU :hi:

[camero]

20. How will this affect our health?

Ah, don't worry. They'll just blame it on lifestyle and we'll be none the wiser.

[drscm]

21. I'm thoroughly convinced that these folks are drinking

mercury laced with arsenic to come up with more stupid rule changes like these.

[donotpassgo]

23. a little mercury now and then is healthy. Am I right?

Who needs water? Or clean air? That just gets in the way of progress.