For Release: Monday, May 17, 2004
Contact: David Gillies : (202) 225-5661

COSTELLO HOSTS BRIEFING ON MERCURY PROPOSAL

Washington - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) today hosted an informational briefing for legislative staff to discuss the possible effects of proposed new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mercury regulations on bituminous, or Midwestern and Eastern, coal.  The briefing was co-hosted with Reps. John Shimkus (D-IL) and Ted Strickland (D-OH), and featured presentations by Bill Hoback of the Illinois Office of Coal Development; Gene Trisko of the United Mine Workers and other state and industry coal experts. 

Costello urged President Bush to reconsider the new rules after they were proposed last December.  The President has since extended the comment period until June. 

"It is important that Members of Congress understand the implications of this rule as the process goes forward," Costello said.  "We are very concerned that the regulations as proposed drastically favor the use of Western coal, which would have significant implications for the Illinois coal industry.  President Bush has taken a positive step by reevaluating EPA's approach."

Costello is a senior member of the House Science Committee and the Energy Subcommittee.  He has taken an active role in promoting clean coal technology, authoring several provisions in the Energy Bill increasing the federal investment in research and demonstration projects to burn coal as cleanly as possible.  Costello is also leading an effort to site the FutureGen project - a state-of-the-art clean coal power facility - in Southern Illinois . 

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