Bottom line, Michigan is behind, but can catch up by adopting rules that go beyond federal minimums, and joining the interstate lawsuit to overturn the Bush Administration's weak stance on a pollutant recently linked to autism as well as many other health disorders.
Michigan:
Michigan can and should insist upon reductions in mercury pollution on a more aggressive timetable than new federal rules require, according to recommendations released Monday by a work group appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
But how to get there -- through voluntary compliance favored by the electric utilities that generate most of the state's mercury pollution, or by legally enforceable rules favored by environmentalists -- is Granholm's dilemma.
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/date21e_20050621.htm
Wisconsin:
The Bush administration ordered Tuesday that power plants cut mercury pollution from smokestacks by nearly half within 15 years, but the worst polluters will be able to buy pollution "credits" from plants that give off less mercury than allowed.
By contrast, the state rule, effective last Oct. 1, required the state's four major power plants to cut mercury emissions in two phases - by 40 percent by 2010 and by 75 percent by 2015.
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/11144550.htm
Minnesota:
Minnesota joined a dozen other states Thursday in challenging a recent federal rule they say fails to protect expectant mothers and children from dangers posed by mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/local/11751878.htm
Posted by Dave at June 21, 2005 10:37 AM