"EPA Seeks To Cut Mercury From Gold Production"

"The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday proposed rules to cut mercury air emissions from U.S. gold ore processing and production facilities.

The proposal would affect about 20 facilities in the United States that extract gold ore, the EPA said. Mercury can damage children's developing brains and nervous systems.

The agency's proposal would slash annual mercury emissions to about 1,390 pounds a year - a 73 percent reduction from 2007 levels. The federal policy will build on reductions from Nevada's program for controlling mercury emissions from precious metal mining.

Gold ore processing and production are the sixth largest source of U.S. mercury air emissions."

Tom Doggett reports for Reuters April 19, 2010.