A coalition of environmental groups and more than a dozen states say the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is lax in forcing coal-fired power plants to curb emissions nationwide, Gannett News Service reported Tuesday.

The EPA has given coal-fired polluters a "free pass," said James Pew, an Lawyer for Earthjustice, noting lax rules mean "more mercury pollution, more waters made unsafe for fishing and more young children made susceptible to mercury contamination."

An EPA Clean Air Mercury Rule, to take effect in 2010, gives energy companies until 2018 to cut mercury emissions to 15 tons for the entire industry from about 48.3 tons produced in 2005, Gannett News reported.

Industry officials say they recognize the problem and are working to retrofit coal plants.

"Our industry has always been very good about wanting to comply with federal and state regulations," said Michael Rossler of the Edison Electric Institute, an industry trade association.