Where do they get "mercury levels in fish have remained constant or declined slightly since the 1970s"???
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/health/AP-Mercury-Pollution.htmlMercury Risk Overstated, (GOP controlled) House Panel Says
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 16, 2005
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Dangers of toxic mercury pollution in the environment have been overstated, the House Resources Committee says in a report issued in anticipation of new regulatory proposals from the Bush administration.
The report, written by aides to the committee's majority Republicans and being released Wednesday, also says no link between mercury from coal-burning power plants and levels of mercury in fish has been scientifically established.<snip>
Instead, EPA now favors an industry-backed alternative that would order a reduction in mercury pollution nationwide with individual plants permitted to meet their allowance by buying pollution rights from companies already in compliance.
``With a more restrictive, unnecessary regulation we could see a large portion of this country's coal supplies become useless,'' said Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., chairman of the resource panel's energy and resources subcommittee. ``A cap-and-trade approach will reduce mercury emissions while maintaining coal as a viable source of energy.''<snip>