Senators seek stronger U.S. mercury curbs

WASHINGTON, April 1 (UPI) -- Nearly half of the Senate signed a letter to the head of the EPA Thursday calling for stronger controls on mercury.

Sen. Patrick Leahy's office said the letter was signed by 44 Republicans, Democrats and Vermont Independent Jim Jeffords. It criticized current proposed rules governing industrial plant emissions as being to weak.

Mercury is considered to be a major health risk in emissions, especially from coal-burning power plants.

The electric power industry responded Thursday by saying the industry is making strides toward cutting mercury and defended a proposed cap-and-trade system as an effective market-based strategy that worked well in the past in reducing acid rain.