Panel: Some plants may not meet new standards

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A regional commission that sets water quality standards for the Ohio River says dozens of industrial plants may not be able to meet new standards on mercury limits that are supposed to go into effect later this year.

The Courier-Journal reports that the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission has sent a list of about 60 such facilities to regulators Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and West Virginia. The panel says current monitoring shows they may not be able to meet the tougher standards set to begin in October.

Commission Director Peter Tennant says the list was drafted as a screening tool for state agencies and to estimate the number of requests the commission may receive for variances.

The newspaper reports the regulatory crunch could lead the commission to put off or change enforcement.