EPA threatened states wanting tougher limits on mercury

EPA threatened states wanting tougher limits on mercury | Associated Press - February 17, 2008 12:44 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - Government documents show the Bush administration pressured dozens of states -- including Montana -- to accept a scheme that would let some power plants evade cleaning up their pollution.

A week ago, a federal appeals court struck down that industry-friendly approach for mercury reduction. It allowed plants with excessive smokestack emissions to buy pollution rights from other plants that foul the air less.

Internal Environmental Protection Agency documents and e-mails show attempts over the past two years to blunt state efforts to make their plants drastically reduce mercury pollution instead of trading for credits that would let them continue it.

While many states resisted EPA's pressure, others ended up bowing to it. ...