OPPOSING GROUPS POSE TEST FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S KEY MERCURY RULE

Pennsylvania's effort to develop a landmark state rulemaking to reduce mercury from electric utilities -- the first by a major coal-producing state -- faces a tough challenge because of competing positions from environmentalists seeking strict standards and the coal industry concerned that stringent controls would force fuel switching. The state's task appears more difficult after it joined New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey and other states May 18 in suing EPA over its mercury rule for power plants, saying it...