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BUSH MERCURY POLLUTION PROPOSAL THREATENS ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH, FISH AND WILDLIFEJanuary 30, 2004, Champaign: Illinois environmental groups and angler organizations today denounced a Bush Administration proposal to roll back standards for dangerous mercury emissions from coal fired power plants. They joined with a coalition of national clean air and public health organizations in saying that the proposed rules fall far short of current Clean Air Act requirements, place vulnerable populations including babies and women of childbearing age at risk, and threaten fish and wildlife populations."The mercury rule published in the federal register today falls far short of what the law requires, and of what health experts say is necessary to protect children from the neurotoxin mercury," said Jean Flemma, Executive Director of Prairie Rivers Network. "The Administration ignored the advice of their own Federal Advisory Committee when it recommended serious controls. Now they want to shut the public out of the process." More than 50 editorials nationwide have already urged the Administration to issue a rule that recognizes the dangers of toxic mercury and takes immediate action to address the problem. However, the administration's plan gives utility companies another decade to begin reducing their mercury emissions. Nationally, the electric utility sector, including coal-fired power plants is responsible for 60% of mercury emissions. In Illinois, coal fired power plants are the number one source of mercury emissions , and electric utilities emitted 4894 pounds of mercury to the air and water in 2001 according to EPA's Toxics Release Inventory. Mercury contamination is so widespread, Illinois has a statewide fish advisory in effect, with levels of mercury in some fish species high enough to pose a risk to pregnant or nursing women, women of child bearing age, and young children. "EPA's own data shows that most modern coal-fired power plants can and do achieve greater than 90% control of mercury and other toxic chemicals," said Angela Ledford, a spokesperson for Clear the Air, a national coalition of clean air and public health organizations. "Other industries, like hospital and city garbage incinerators, have been required to meet that 90% standard for over a decade. The EPA should require power companies to do no less. There's no reason all coal-fired power plants can't meet the same standards everyone else does." "Toxic mercury pollution also has a serious impact on fish and wildlife," said Jim Coursey, Chair of the Illinois Council of Trout Unlimited's Government Affairs Subcommittee. "Outdoor recreation is an important part of the economy and the culture of our state, in fact, anglers spent almost $600 million in Illinois in 2001. We should be able to enjoy this pastime without the fear that our fish, wildlife, water resources and children aren't being poisoned by mercury." In late February of this year, EPA will hold a public hearing on the new mercury rule be in Chicago. The final date, time, and location have yet to be announced. EPA Report on Mercury Toxicity | |