CARSON CITY -- Representatives of Nevada's environmental protection agency on Friday disputed claims it's not doing enough to regulate mercury pollution, saying its program exceeds federal requirements and could be used as a model for other states.

Lawmakers at a joint Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee hearing were concerned about a University of Nevada, Reno, report that found high concentrations of mercury in the air around mines.

"Aren't these numbers quite damning?" said Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus. "Are you going to do anything about this or accept the status quo?"

Leo Drozdoff, administrator for the state Division of Environmental Protection, said the report contained inaccuracies and that the division was starting research on airborne mercury and how it could affect worker safety.

"It's been mischaracterized that the mines do things, and we just take what they say," Drozdoff said.

Division spokesman Dante Pistone added that the federal government does not require mercury monitoring at mines, and Nevada's first-of-a-kind program could be used as an example for other states.

In 2005, the division enacted a new program to regulate mercury emissions, which includes formalized permitting, reporting and monitoring. Mines also must buy the best available technology for reducing emissions. If mines violate permit standards, they face fines of up to $10,000 per day and possible closure.

The move came after a voluntary mercury emissions program between 2000 and 2005. That program, according to NDEP, resulted in an 80 percent reduction in mercury pollution.