"Cement Industry, Environmentalists Debate Emission Regulations"

"WASHINGTON -- The cement industry is launching a late push to water down new regulations that would limit the amount of mercury and other hazardous pollutants emitted by their plants.

The industry argues that the proposal would result in higher cement prices, which would hamper government-funded stimulus investments in airports, highways, nuclear plants and wind farms. A study by Southern Methodist University says the rule would crimp new investment in plants over the next several years and result in more than 15,000 job losses. ...

Environmental groups say that argument is the latest attempt to delay limits on toxic air pollutants required by the Clean Air Act. The rule has been the subject of litigation for at least a decade, as environmental groups pressed the Environmental Protection Agency to set strict limits."
 
Dave Michaels reports for the Dallas Morning News February 17, 2010.