Undiscerning readers might deduce from Michael P. Siklosi’s letter, “Mercury information” (BDN, July 30), citing data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s’s Web site, that it is unrealistic to expect power plants burning lignite and sub-bituminous coals to be able to meet the Clean Air Act requirement of a 90 percent reduction in mercury emissions by 2008 and that a more realistic date for compliance would be 2015.

The editorial, “Move Ahead with MACT” (BDN, July 20), states that Sen. Susan Collins has noted that data collected by the EPA show that existing technologies can bring mercury emissions from coal-burning plants into Clean Air Act compliance by 2008. Presumably, this includes plants using lignite and sub-soft coals.

Could it be that Collins is privy to data the EPA chooses not to post on its Web site? This would not be surprising since the current administration has so politicized the agency and subverted its mission to protect the country’s environment and the health of its citizens that Christie Todd Whitman resigned as administrator.

Fifteen states have banded together to challenge in court changes made by the agency to rules and regulations mandated by the Clean Air Act.

Paul T. LaPierre

Holden