Clean Air At Risk From Federal Spending Bill Compromises

Environmental advocates believe the earth has gotten the short end of the stick through a number of compromises hammered out on Capitol Hill to get a massive $1 trillion dollar plus spending package passed.

The Natural Resources Defense Council says riders pushed through by Republican legislators to get them to vote on the package weakens certain Clean Air Act provisions. Council Legislative Director Scott Slesinger says "one would stop EPA from issuing rules for boilers that spew mercury into the atmosphere. Most boilers in the country wouldn't be affected but the 15-hundred dirtiest would be."

Slesinger says the Health benefits of keeping the mercury and air toxic standards in place out weight the cost but he says companies impacted by the standards have the most influence in Washington.

Both the House and Senate are expected to vote on the spending agreement today to avert a government shutdown over the weekend.