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August 26, 2004
Contact: Arthur Stamoulis
215-567-4004 ext. 222
NEW STUDY: PENNSYLVANIA
POWER PLANTS LET OFF THE HOOK FOR TOXIC AIR POLLUTION
PA Worst in Nation for Arsenic Emissions; 3rd Worst for
Lead and Chromium
Pittsburgh, PA - Pennsylvania's power
plants are worst in the nation for arsenic emissions and
are third worst for lead and chromium emissions, according
to a study released locally today by Clean Air Council.
The study found that Pennsylvania power plants are emitting
tens of thousands of tons of toxic air pollution, and will
be allowed to keep doing so thanks to fine print buried
in the controversial Bush administration "mercury rule."
The new report, Beyond Mercury: Why
the Bush Administration plan means more arsenic, lead, dioxin,
and other toxic air pollution, looks at a major policy
change hidden within the Environmental Protection Agency's
proposed mercury rule: in addition to allowing weak limits
on mercury emissions, the rule is written so that it does
not require emission limits for more than 60 other power
plant air toxics that threaten public health.
"Pennsylvanians have expressed concern
that the Bush administration isn't doing enough to protect
women and families from mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin,"
said Arthur Stamoulis, Policy Analyst for Clean Air Council,
a statewide environmental group. "It is now clear that
mercury is just the tip of the iceberg. Power plants in
this state are emitting tens of thousands of tons of arsenic,
lead and other toxic air pollution-and the Bush plan will
keep these substances completely unregulated."
The Bush mercury rule has already caused
controversy in Pennsylvania, and throughout the country,
because it is weaker and would take longer to reduce toxic
mercury emissions than if the Clean Air Act was simply enforced
as written.
However, clean air advocates charge that
buried in legalese of the proposed rule is a "slight
of hand" with the way mercury is considered under the
Clean Air Act, which has repercussions for other emissions.
The Bush plan takes the unusual step of treating mercury
less stringently than has historically been the case for
toxic emissions, apparently so that power companies can
"trade" the right to pollute. However, if finalized,
this change would also let power plants continue to avoid
controls for dozens of other toxic air pollutants. Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection Chief Counsel Michael
D. Bedrin, and representatives from ten other states, have
all argued that EPA has a legal obligation to control these
pollutants.
The report includes
specific information about emissions of toxic chemicals
that should be controlled, but aren't. Pennsylvania power
plants emit:
- 18,826 pounds of toxic arsenic, which
is a known human carcinogen;
- 14,146 pounds of lead, which can cause
learning disabilities in children at low doses;
- and 41,750 pounds of chromium, which
can cause damage to the respiratory tract.
In addition, individual power plants-including
Hatfield Power Station (Masontown), Homer City Generation
(Homer City), Keystone Power Plant (Shelcota), Bruce Mansfield
(Shippenport) and Brunner Island Steam Electric Station
(York Haven)-were cited for their high levels of toxic emissions.
"I find it alarming that western
Pennsylvania is home to some of the nation's worst arsenic
polluters. Just when can we expect the regulatory agencies
to do their job and protect public health?" asked Lisa
Graves Marcucci, Executive Director for Jefferson Action
Group, Inc.
"This report shows the urgent need
to reduce the huge amounts of toxic chemicals being released
by power plants and other industries," said Myron Arnowitt,
Western PA Director for Clean Water Action. "Mon Valley
residents are taking a first step by forming a local group
to monitor the air near Reliant Energy's Elrama plant and
other facilities, but it is ultimately up to the government
to make sure pollution is reduced." Clean Water Action
will be holding a training on how to take air pollution
samples for Mon Valley residents on Saturday, August 28,
at 9:00am., at the West Elizabeth United Methodist Church
(on Route 837).
"Failure to meet the requirements
of the Clean Air Act is giving energy companies license
to continue emitting tons of dangerous chemicals into the
air every year. This jeopardizes the health of Pennsylvanians,
due to the high number of power plants in the state,"
said Stamoulis. "It's time for the Bush administration
to protect public health with tough air pollution standards
that reduce all air toxics from power plants-as required
by law."
For a copy of the report and a fact sheet
about toxic air emissions in Pennsylvania, please visit:
www.cleanair.org/toxicreport.pdf
www.cleanair.org/toxicfactsheet.pdf
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