Leavitt decries 'fiction' in claims on mercury; Democrats seek meeting

摘要

While acknowledging It is possible to cut mercury emissions 90% given existing technology, the Environmental Protection Agency chief said last week such successes were rare and could not be replicated across the country, at least for now. EPA is mulling two proposals to reduce utility mercury emissions and plans to finalize a rate by March. In remarks to an industry conference Monday, EPA Administrator Michael Leavitt panned "oversimplified statements" that claim there are highly effective mercury controls that are available and "widely distributable," Only in select cases, and with certain types of coal, have coal-burning utilities been able to slash mercury emissions, he said.