February 3, 2005
Contact: Michael Burri,
(302) 691-0112 X 232
NWF: Olivia Campbell,
(202) 792-6890

Report Card Shows Delaware
Doing Poor Job of Reducing Mercury Pollution
State Lags Behind Mid-Atlantic Neighbors

WILMINGTON, DE - The state of Delaware receives barely passing grades for its efforts in reducing mercury pollution and exposure, according to a report released today by the National Wildlife Federation. Mercury in the Mid-Atlantic: Are States Meeting the Challenge? gives the state a grade of "D+" for its control of mercury air emissions and a "D" for controlling mercury releases from consumer products. The report grades the state in seven categories, with an overall score of "D+" for Delaware.

"Delaware is failing in its efforts to protect its citizens and wildlife from mercury," says Olivia Campbell, National Campaign Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) Clean the Rain Campaign. "The lack of action today to fully phase-out mercury use and reduce exposure means leaving future generations of children and wildlife vulnerable to mercury's toxic effects for decades to come."

Delaware has a poor record when it comes to reducing mercury pollution. The state has taken no action to reduce mercury emissions from the state's largest source of mercury, a chlor-alkali plant. Fewer than 10 mercury chlor-alkali plants are still operational in the U.S. The majority of chlorine and caustic soda manufacturers around the world use mercury-free technology.

"For more than a year, Governor Minner has promised to clean up mercury pollution from power plants," said Michael Burri, program manager for Clean Air Council. "Following through on that promise will be a significant step, but the Governor also needs to address Delaware City's Oxychem plant, which is responsible for more than three-quarters of Delaware's in-state mercury emissions. With mercury-free technologies available, there is no reason for that plant to continue poisoning our waterways."

Delaware also has not taken any action to phase-out the sale and use of products containing mercury such as thermostats and button-cell batteries, or addressed the proper disposal of dental mercury from fillings.

"The state needs legislation that prevents mercury from being needlessly used in products when there are readily-available alternatives," said Burri. "The Solid Waste Authority should also expand opportunities for people to properly dispose of household hazardous waste items. It has a great collection program, but more-frequent drop-off events would capture a lot more mercury before it entered the waste stream."

The state has done an adequate job issuing advisory warnings against eating fish caught in several important water bodies due to mercury contamination, distributing over 100,000 fishing advisory guides each year at locations where fishing licenses are sold. Delaware is one of six states to have issued specific estuarine advisories for mercury, and the Division of Fish & Wildlife has separate advisories for the upper Delaware River, the lower Delaware River and Delaware Bay, as well as Becks Pond.

Delaware's efforts to date were analyzed along with those of Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Throughout the region, states have taken a piecemeal approach to this issue - only addressing limited aspects of the problem. New Jersey, for example, is the only state to control air emissions of mercury from coal-fired power plants - the largest source of mercury air pollution in the country. New York has taken the most aggressive action in the region to control mercury releases from consumer products, as well as from dental offices. The report calls on Delaware and all states in the Mid-Atlantic to take immediate action to comprehensively address mercury pollution and exposure.

"Delaware is lagging behind other states in the mid-Atlantic region. If Delaware were a student, its report card would be a disaster. We urge the Governor and the legislature to step up efforts to reduce the threat of mercury to our children and wildlife." says Campbell. .

For the full analysis of Mid-Atlantic states' progress in addressing mercury pollution and exposure, including all grades for all states, see Mercury in the Mid-Atlantic: Are States Meeting the Challenge? online at www.nwf.org/news.

###

National Wildlife Federation is America's conservation organization protecting wildlife for our children's future.

Clean Air Council is a regional environmental organization working to improve air quality and promote clean energy resources.