TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – Maine and 10 other states on Monday formally announced their opposition to a federal proposal to give coal-fired power plants flexibility in cutting mercury emissions.

The group, mostly officials from Northeastern states, claimed the rules being considered by the Environmental Protection Agency woul d weaken pollution standards and provide industry with loopholes that will endanger public health.

Besides Maine, states filing comments were California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin.

“An issue that is so critical to the health of our citizens in general and children in particular should not turn in each instance on the financial self-interest of the power company,” said New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey, who filed the comments with the EPA on behalf of the group.

The Bush administration has proposed regulating mercury in a way similar to other pollutants.

A plan under consideration would set nationwide limits on pollution below current levels, and allow plants unable to reduce their share to pay for cuts by other plants that do more than required. It also envisions cutting mercury emissions by 70 percent by 2018.

The Clinton administration had offered a proposal that would have cut emissions 90 percent by 2008. That would have required utilities to install the best available technology and prohibited pollution credit trading.

EPA administrator Mike Leavitt has promised to re-examine the plan.

New Hampshire Acting Attorney General Kelly Ayotte said mercury emissions, “most of which are located upwind from New Hampshire, accumulate in our lakes and streams, forcing health advisories and threatening our children’s health.”

She said “EPA’s lax proposal, which ignores good science and federal clean air laws, can only be characterized as too little, too late.”‘

Mercury releases from power plants are not regulated now. The substance settles in waterways and accumulates in fish. The Food and Drug Administration has warned that high levels of mercury in some fish, including albacore tuna, can pose a hazard for children and for pregnant or nursing women.

The comments were filed on behalf of nine state attorneys general and the environmental secretaries of Pennsylvania and New Mexico. In the 110-page document, officials said one plan under EPA consideration would lower standards for plant emissions.

The complaint also hammers the trading proposal, claiming the Clean Air Act requires specific reductions in emissions by each plant.

“EPA’s plan would allow power plants to choose to purchase emissions credits rather than reducing their own mercury emissions,” Harvey said.

The comments also take aim at the administration’s proposal for

EPA spokespeople did not immediately comment Monday.

In the past, the EPA has reaffirmed that Leavitt considers mercury exposure a serious health issue and is determined to complete a final regulation by year’s end that will cut those emissions from power plants by 70 percent.

Leavitt has asked for additional analysis to ensure that cutting mercury emissions is done “in the most efficient and effective way possible” given the available technology, according to the agency.

Officials in the Northeast have been concerned about mercury contamination of the region’s lakes and streams. The pollution often drifts from coal-burning power plants hundreds of miles away.

In Maine, the Coalition of Concerned Mainers held a press conference in Falmouth on Monday to reiterate its opposition to the proposed rules. The group includes environmental advocates, business owners, public health advocates, sport fishermen and others.

“There is strong bipartisan support for strict controls on mercury pollution from our entire congressional delegation,” said Joan Saxe of the Maine chapter of the Sierra Club. “It’s time for the Bush administration to do the same and put people ahead of polluters.”

AP-ES-06-28-04 1654EDT