Deep mercury cuts OKd at coal plants

Illinois lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to new state rules requiring deep cuts in mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants.

With little comment, a legislative panel endorsed a compromise negotiated between Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration and two of the state's major utilities, Ameren and Dynegy.

A third company, Midwest Generation, agreed to a similar deal Monday. Rules dealing with the company's six power plants, including five in the Chicago area, will be issued after Jan. 1.

The utilities will reduce mercury emissions by 90 percent by 2015, which is faster and deeper than federal rules require. They also will sharply cut other forms of air pollution that create smog and soot.

Coal-fired power plants are the nation's largest source of mercury, a toxic metal that can cause learning disabilities in children and neurological problems in adults.

Mercury pollution is so pervasive that Illinois and 43 other states advise people to limit consumption of freshwater fish, mostly large predator species that can accumulate large amounts of the metal.

Courtesy of Chicago Sun-Times

Steve - this is a ruling that was decades overdue.