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)
pwpwd

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

Related Stories:
Bush nominates career scientist as head of EPA (3/7)
Report: EPA's mercury proposal biased towards industry (02/04)
EPA to delay regulations on mercury emissions (04/30)
EPA drafts new rules to reduce air pollution (12/05)
Bush administration proposes to ease mercury rules (12/3)
Tribes mull toxic fish study findings (8/1)
Toxic fish threaten tribal subsistence (7/31)