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Environment
Report faults EPA for mercury rule favoring industry


The Government Accountability Office said on Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency distorted the analysis of a proposed mercury pollution rule to favor the Bush administration's pro-industry stance.

The EPA has yet to issue the rule but the administration's "Clear Skies" initiative favors a market approach to allow the industry as a whole to trade pollution credits. Individual power plants would not have to abide by certain limits to reduce mercury, a byproduct of coal-burning poses health risks, especially to young children and pregnant women.

The GAO report follows an EPA inspector general report that said political officials manipulated the rule.

Get the Story:
EPA Distorted Mercury Analysis, GAO Says (The Washington Post 3/8)
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GAO Report:
Clean Air Act: Observations on EPA's Cost-Benefit Analysis of Its Mercury Control Options (March 7, 2005)

Related Report:
Additional Analyses of Mercury Emissions Needed Before EPA Finalizes Rules for Coal-Fired Electric Utilities | Inspector General Statement

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