Regulations to control the mercury released into the air by power plants should not be relaxed.

The Bush administration is considering just such a change. Under a plan that is being circulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, the new rules would allow power plants to trade pollution credits for mercury emissions. Moves toward strict controls would be replaced with a system that allows clean power plants to sell the right to pollute to dirtier plants. Similar programs have been effective in reducing other types of air pollution.

But mercury is different.

Highly toxic, mercury, once released into the air by a power plant, pollutes rivers and streams, and collects in the tissue of fish. The poison can then be passed along through the food chain to animals and people. Pregnant women are advised against eating too much fish and to avoid fish from polluted lakes and streams altogether. Mercury poisoning can cause developmental problems for babies.

Sen. Olympia Snowe, who has sponsored legislation to limit power plant emissions, describes the new rules as a threat to public health.

“It is implausible that we can continue to postpone an effective solution to a threat that has left at least 41 states, including Maine, in a position where they have warned the public about the risks of fish consumption due to health-threatening levels of mercury,” Snowe said.

According to Cox News Service, the plan is even more lenient than standards sought by the power companies themselves.

We shouldn’t allow clean air, clean water and public health to be bartered away in concessions to some of the country’s biggest polluters. This environmental backslide must stop.


A great success


There was a party Wednesday in Auburn, and it was well-deserved.

Dignitaries lined up to pay their respects, a choir sang and there were smiles all around.

The event, held at the Hilton Garden Inn, was to celebrate a major accomplishment by the Auburn Library. The library’s expansion campaign, led by Barbara Trafton with significant help from others, raised $3.5 million for renovation. The city matched the effort this week by approving a bond of an equal amount for the project, for a total of $7 million.

It’s easy to get down on the city over the turmoil surrounding Mayor Norm Guay’s arrest, tensions with several unions and continuing complaints about more open government processes. But Auburn is a pretty good place to live and its leaders are committed to improving the lives of residents. This project shows it.

The project is a good example of the community coming together to accomplish a major task. The city issued a challenge to supporters of the library to raise half the cost of renovations. Almost 1,500 people contributed to the campaign and more than 300 volunteers donated their time and expertise. The challenge was met.

There are many financial demands on the city, including compensation for city workers, police and firemen. But government must answer many priorities. Renovating the city’s library is one of those.
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