More Mercury in Lake Superior?

Posted by: Kathie Brosemer (kathie) on March 26, 2001 at 12:28:27
from the throw-back-the-big-ones dept.

Tony DeFalco writes: "That's what will happen if the electric power industry gets it's way. Through the Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG is an ad hoc group of electric utilities) industry has submitted a "petition of opposition" to EPA as well as initiating litigation attempting to overturn EPA's recent decision to regulate mercury and other toxic pollutants (like arsenic, cadmium, dioxin and radio nuclides). EPA's determination to regulate emissions would start the process of regulating mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. As of now, no regulations exist for emissions of this toxic metal. Today, National Wildlife Federation and 42 conservation and environmental groups united to fight this attempt (see press release below)."

As of April of 1998, both Minnesota Power (which operates the Clay Boswell coal-fired power plant in Cohasset, MN and generated 307 pounds of mercury in 1998) and Wisconsin Electric (which operates the Presque Isle coal-fired power plant in Marquette, MI and generated 154 pounds of mercury in 1998) were members of UARG.

It's extremely regressive for the industry to fight regulations that will protect the people and wildlife of Lake Superior. Environmental groups, children's health groups, tribes, and the states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin all submitted comments to EPA last years asking EPA to regulate emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants.

Please take a moment today to send a letter to EPA Administrator Chirstine Whitman asking her to protect Lake Superior's fish, people and wildlife from the harmful effects of mercury by developing regulations of emissions from power plants. Your letter can make a difference in keeping intact this hard-earned step toward protection of Lake Superior from mercury. You can do this on the web at: www.nwf.org/cleantherain/epamercury.html

If you want to send a letter to Administrator Whitman, here's her address: Christine Todd Whitman
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Room 1101A
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.
Washington, DC 20460
Fax: (202) 501-1450


NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION®
People and Nature: Our Future Is in the Balance®

NEWS
For Immediate Release: March 22, 2001

Contacts:
Andy Buchsbaum 734/769-3351
Felice Stadler 202/797-6692

Conservation Groups Unite to Fight Electric Industry's Attempts to Reverse Mercury Pollution Restrictions

Following last week's reversal on promised carbon dioxide restrictions, conservationists wonder if mercury is next?

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Conservation groups nationwide joined the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) today in legal actions demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stand strong against the electric industry's attempts to overturn the recent EPA decision to regulate mercury and other toxic air pollutants. This "Petition of Opposition" is prompted by the administration's reversal last week on campaign promises to limit the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from the nation's power plants.

"We are asking the Bush administration and the EPA not to sacrifice the health of people and wildlife because of pressure from the electric utility industry," said Andy Buchsbaum, NWF water quality projects manager. "For more than 10 years the electric utility industry has been trying to derail efforts to regulate their mercury emissions, despite mounting evidence of the public health and ecological risk of mercury exposure and the increasing public and political support for national controls."

The Petition of Opposition follows the legal battle which began yesterday when NWF, Natural Resources Defense Council , the Clean Air Task Force and seven state and regional organizations filed motions to intervene with the U.S. Court of Appeals challenging the Utility Air Regulatory Group's (UARG) petition asking the court to overturn EPA's December 2000 regulatory determination. UARG represents about 50 of the nation's largest electric power companies.

The electric power industry also filed a legal petition with EPA in February that threatens to overturn the EPA's regulatory determination that sets a schedule for developing national mercury and other air toxics controls for coal- and oil-fired electric utilities. EPA's announcement in December followed an intensive three-year campaign that pitted the industry against environmental and public health advocates calling for national controls on the largest uncontrolled source of mercury pollution.

The industry's petition to EPA makes two arguments: 1) that the agency failed to adequately quantify the human health risk posed by mercury emissions to justify controls, and 2) that the agency failed to provide the public the opportunity to comment before finalizing its decision.

Environmentalists strongly object to what they call a "groundless" industry petition.

"Countless studies have documented that mercury emissions from U.S. sources, including coal-fired electric utilities, contaminate lakes and streams, the fish within those water bodies, and the people and wildlife who eat the fish," said NWF senior scientist, Mike Murray. "A drop of mercury as small as 1/70th of a teaspoon every year can contaminate a 25-acre lake to the point that the fish in it are unsafe to eat. When you consider a typical 100-megawatt power plant emits about 50 pounds of mercury a year, the potential for tremendous ecological and human health problems becomes alarmingly clear."

"The electric power plant industry's argument that the public had no opportunity to weigh in is flat out wrong," said Eric Palola, director of NWF's Northeastern office. "EPA spent years soliciting input on whether to regulate the electric industry, more so than it has for any other industry that's been regulated under the Clean Air Act. And the public will have many more opportunities to offer their input in the next four years during the rulemaking process."

"The industry's petition is a cynical attempt to capitalize on a 'energy crisis'," said Felice Stadler, National Policy Director of NWF's Clean the Rain Campaign. "We have the technology right now to deeply and cost-effectively cut mercury emissions from this industry without affecting the supply of electricity to people's homes. Power plants are the nation's largest source of mercury air pollution * it's time for them to do their share to cut back on harmful mercury emissions."

Just yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released their latest findings on mercury levels in the U.S. population in a report called National Report on Human Exposures to Environmental Chemicals. Based on blood mercury levels reported in that study, at least 10 percent of women of childbearing age ingest mercury at rates above the EPA's safe level, and it can be estimated that approximately 390,000 children are born annually at risk for neurological effects due to mercury exposure.

Mercury is a toxic metal that damages the nervous system in people and wildlife. It persists in the environment and builds up in the food chain threatening the health of critical wildlife and women and children and the economy. Some scientists estimate that if all pollution ceased today, it could take up to 50 years before fish would be safe to eat.

"People expect the Bush administration to look out for their safety and the health of their environment," said NWF president and CEO, Mark Van Putten. "We call on President Bush to prove them right."

The nation's largest member-supported conservation education and advocacy group, the National Wildlife Federation unites people from all walks of life to protect nature, wildlife and the world we all share. The Federation has educated and inspired families to uphold America's conservation tradition since 1936.

For more information visit our online press kit at www.nwf.org/cleantherain
Petition of Opposition signers include:


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To CleanNorth - are you CANADIAN or U.S.?
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