SENATOR COLLINS’-BACKED RESOLUTION TO FORCE SENATE VOTE ON FLAWED EPA MERCURY RULE

Washington, D.C.—Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who has been pressing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to minimize the harmful effects of mercury in the environment joined several other Senators today, including Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) in calling for support of a provision that could overturn the EPA's flawed rule on mercury emissions. The Leahy-Collins resolution of disapproval ensures a Senate vote on the mercury rule. The resolution may come up on the Senate floor as early as this week. The resolution was filed in June under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which gives Congress the ability to repeal rules proposed by federal agencies.

"There is overwhelming and undisputable scientific evidence that the EPA's mercury rule is flawed and should be overturned," said Senator Collins. "Mercury is a toxin that is extremely harmful to children and pregnant women, in particular. Maine's waterways are threatened by emissions from power plants located in others states, yet the EPA's recent rule does little to address this serious problem."

"Despite repeated requests, EPA has completely failed to correct this flawed rule. Therefore, I am pursuing legislative remedies to overturn it," she added.

At issue are the EPA's proposed regulations regarding mercury and the amount of toxin that can be legally emitted by power plants. The EPA's rule, which was issued earlier this year, removed mercury emissions from power plants from the list of toxic pollutants that must be regulated under the most stringent provisions of the Clean Air Act, therefore, enabling the EPA to devise a more lenient cap and trade mercury program.

Senator Collins has been working to reverse or overturn the EPA's rule. The Joint Resolution of Disapproval and discharge petition are being led by Senator Leahy. Senator Collins was the first Republican to sign on to both the measure and the discharge petition.

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