Wisconsin will join a lawsuit against the Bush administration for being negligent on federal mercury standards, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Monday.
\Wisconsin is a leader in controlling mercury emissions,"" Doyle said. ""But unfortunately we can't stop mercury from other states from polluting our waters. It's time for the Bush Administration to follow the Clean Air Act and ensure that Wisconsin's citizens are protected from the devastating economic and health risks of mercury pollution.""
Doyle is concerned the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed rules that call for only a 21 percent reduction in mercury emissions by 2010 and is allowing 19 states to increase their emissions until then.
Doyle said the EPA should be doing more, citing two recent permits for coal-fired power plants-which Doyle said are the largest unregulated source of mercury to the state's lakes and rivers.
All of the state's fresh water bodies are under a mercury advisory to limit state residents' consumption of fish.
Environmental groups such as the League of Conservation Voters, Wisconsin Public Research Interest Group and the Sierra Club applauded the governor's decision.
""It is a travesty that states like Wisconsin ... have to sue the federal government because they are not doing enough to protect public health,"" said Jennifer Giegerich, state director of WisPIRG, in a statement.
However, state Sen. Neal Kedzie, R-Elkhorn, who chairs the Committee on Natural Resources and Transportation, questioned the lawsuit's necessity.
""I'm somewhat disappointed that the governor wants to get involved at the federal level,"" Kedzie said. ""Our efforts could be spent better elsewhere.""
Kedzie feels the lawsuit sets a negative tone on an issue that requires cooperation throughout the state, with other states and even other countries.
He noted that many environmental problems in Wisconsin result from wind currents bringing pollutants from countries as far off as China and other Third World countries that have poor regulations.
The state becomes the tenth to join the lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Kedzie said he is hopeful improved agreements between the state and federal levels can be reached, thus avoiding the legal dispute.
