From Washington Post and other sources

   President Bush's Clear Skies Plan for reducing air pollution by power plants may triple the levels of mercury pollution. Mercury finds its way into the environment from air pollution by oil and coal burning power plants. Rain washes it into waterways, where it settles and is eaten by microorganisms, which are consumed by fish. More than 2 million acres of Florida's lakes and the state's entire coastline including the Indian River Lagoon, were listed under mercury fish consumption advisories. Mercury is a toxic metal that can lead to neurological damage after ingestion. The advisories warn residents to limit the number of certain fish they eat if they are caught locally. Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable to mercury poisoning. In the Lagoon, mercury advisories have been issued for Crevalle Jack, Ladyfish and Spotted Seatrout. The U.S. Senate has proposed the bipartisan Carpers Bill as an alternative to the Clear Skies Plan. An EPA analysis says the Senate plan would reduce mercury pollution and cut greenhouse gases and acid rain by more than 70%. The EPA's findings have been withheld from Congress and the public for months, presumably because they contradicted the President's agenda. Republicans for Environmental Protection and other groups are concerned at this latest example of politicians censoring science when scientific facts contradict their political agenda. A recent EPA report documenting the impacts of global warming was also censored by the White House.