Obama EPA Seeks Stricter Limits on Mercury Pollution From Power Plants

"Mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants is declining nationally after years of increases, prompted by laws in Illinois and more than a dozen other states that for the first time limited emissions of the toxic metal.

Now the Obama administration is pushing stringent limits that by 2015 would force every power plant in the nation to capture 90 percent of the mercury in the coal it burns, a standard many plants already are meeting. The proposed rule also would impose tougher limits on lung- and heart-damaging soot and other "air toxics," including arsenic and chromium.

On Tuesday, industry lawyers, environmental groups and public health advocates will converge in Chicago for a daylong hearing on the administration's proposal, which has prompted an intense lobbying effort from some power companies that are trying to delay or kill the rule."

Michael Hawthorne reports for the Chicago Tribune May 23, 2011.