American Power Company's Conesville, Ohio coal-fired powerplant burned 3,000,000 tons of coal last year. Staff photo by David A. Rodgers.

Coal-burning power plant produce a large amount of the mercury pollution that plagues Maine and the eastern United States. The federal government knows how to improve things, but the answers have been blocked by big-money politics.

Politics and pollution
The EPA's efforts to curb the toxic metal have been slowed by industry lobbyists and their allies in Congress.

Congressional delegation slow to respond to mercury threat
Sen. Olympia Snowe initially urged the EPA to withhold a controversial report that could result in stricter pollution limits.

Waste incinerators 'a major source'
Every year, Maine's Regional Waste Systems plant discharges 300 pounds of mercury into the air on the outskirts of Portland.

Proposed anti-mercury rules may have minimal effect
Of four incinerators in Maine, only Portland's would be required to cut its emissions.