WP: EPA Wording Found To Mirror Industry's

[kskiska]

Influence on Mercury Proposal Probed

For the third time, environmental advocates have discovered passages in the Bush administration's proposal for regulating mercury pollution from power plants that mirror almost word for word portions of memos written by a law firm representing coal-fired power plants.

The passages state that the Environmental Protection Agency is not required to regulate other hazardous toxins emitted by power plants, such as lead and arsenic. Several attorneys general, as well as some environmental groups, have argued that the Clean Air Act compels the EPA to regulate these emissions as well as mercury.

The revelations concerning language written by Latham & Watkins could broaden an ongoing probe by the EPA's inspector general into whether the industry had an undue influence on the agency's proposed mercury rule, legislative critics of the proposed rule said.

Sen. James M. Jeffords (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and one of the senators who called for the probe last spring, said the revelation that the EPA adopted the same wording as an industry source "no longer comes as much of a surprise."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39749-2004Sep21.html

[UpInArms]

1. Jeffords nails it

Sen. James M. Jeffords (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and one of the senators who called for the probe last spring, said the revelation that the EPA adopted the same wording as an industry source "no longer comes as much of a surprise."

No we are no longer surprised, just incredibly cynical and disillusioned in this mess that the BFEE has made of our country and our government.

I do hope that the attorneys are ready to defend these criminals as soon as we can boot their asses out.

:nuke:

[Rose Siding]

2. I find it impossible to answer survey questions....

that ask about the 2 or 3 most important "issues". There are too many that are just urgently vital. This is a scandal in itself- over and over so that poor, saintly Jeffords isn't even surprised! We have to defeat Bush. Have to....