EPA needs to curb power plant emissions.

• Position: Toxins - Environmental Protection Agency

The dirtiest power plants in the nation continue to generate a disproportionate amount of toxic pollutants--including arsenic, chromium, hydrochloric acid, lead, mercury, nickel, and selenium--according to an analysis by the Environmental Integrity Project, Washington, D.C.

As per the report, the dozen dirtiest power plants in the U.S. in terms of sheer pounds of emissions of four highly toxic heavy metals--arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury--are Plum Point Station, Ariz.; TVA's Paradise Plant, Ken.; Genon's Shawville Station, Pa.; Basin Electric's Laramie River Station, Wyo.; Consumers Energy's JH Campbell Plant, Mich.; AES Puerto Rico LP, RR.; Edison International's Homer City Plant, Pa.; Consumers Energy's De Karn/JC Weadock Generating Plant, Mich.; First-Energy's Bruce Mansfield Power Plant, Pa.; Southern Company's Bowen Plant, Ga.; Basin Electric's Antelope Valley Station, N.D.; and Luminant's Monticello Power Plant, Texas.

Based on overall rankings for toxic pollutants reviewed in the EIP report, the five worst states identified are Pennsylvania (ranked first for arsenic and lead); Ohio (second for mercury and selenium); Indiana (fourth for chromium and nickel); Kentucky (second for arsenic); and Texas (first for mercury and selenium).

The balance of the 15 worst states for the key toxins reviewed in the report are: West Virginia; Georgia...