WASHINGTON — Environmentalists and the Lake Superior Chippewa Nation welcomed a proposal for cutbacks in mercury emissions from iron-ore processing on the Iron Rage and in northern Michigan. James Pew, an attorney with Earthjustice, called the proposal overdue. For 30 years, Pew said, the Environmental Protection Agency has failed to enforce mercury limits established by Congress. Pew has represented several groups demanding enforcement, including the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Pew said, however, the EPA should have gone further. U.S. Steel, which operates some of the affected iron Range mines, has argued that the 1990 requirement for a 72% reduction was technologically unfeasible and argued for 30%. The new EPA proposal is 57%.
