By United Press International U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Todd Whitman smiles while speaking to the press in the Press Room of the White House, Tuesday, about a new EPA ruling concerning lead emissions released into the environment from businesses. The White House on Tuesday upheld environmental regulations first approved by former President Bill Clinton that force an estimated 3,600 smaller industrial producers to chart lead emissions previously unreported.
Lead poisoning can cause learning problems, brain damage and hyperactivity in our children.
Despite the significant progress we have made in reducing lead in children's blood, the president believes we can do more. The regulation does not actually reduce lead emissions. It requires manufactures like electric plants and carmakers that use more than 100 pounds of lead or lead compounds annually to report emissions to the EPA . Previously, the only producers required to document lead emissions were firms that processed 25,000 pounds of lead or otherwise used 10,000 pounds or more per year. Clinton adopted the regulation 12 days before leaving office in a move that angered many in the manufacturing industry because of the increased costs associated with emissions reporting.