Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), will hold his long-awaited hearing on power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), and mercury on February 12. The hearing on the so-called “four pollutant” legislation (S. 556) was delayed several times in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that the Bush Administration’s alternative legislation, which will not address carbon dioxide emissions, will be ready in time for the hearing.

EPA was directed to pursue a strategy for addressing multi-pollutant emissions from power plants and other industrial facilities as part of the Bush Administration’s National Energy Policy Development Group recommendations. EPA is hopeful that it can work with Sen. Jeffords to develop a bill that reduces emissions of greenhouse gas pollutants, but it adamant that CO2 not be included. Sen. Jeffords is equally determined to include all four pollutants.

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