Governor Rendell lauds Federal Court decision striking EPA's mercury rule; notes Pennsylvania rule remains valid

摘要

Calling it a major victory for the health and welfare of the nation's citizens and environment, on February 7, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G Rendell praised a ruling by a federal appeals court against the Bush administration's "cap and trade" mercury reduction policy for coal-fired power plants. "Today's decision was in the best interest of our citizens and environment," Rendell said. "I'm pleased the court agreed with Pennsylvania and 14 other states that the Bush administration's regulatory scheme to reduce mercury emissions from coal fired power plants is illegal. "Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that accumulates in our environment and threatens the health of our people. Allowing the owners of some power plants to buy the right to continue spewing large amounts of this substance into the air is unacceptable, and the federal court recognized that."