January 30, 2004

Contact: Arthur Stamoulis
(215) 567-4004 ext. 222

BUSH MERCURY POLLUTION PROPOSAL THREATENS PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC HEALTH, FISH AND WILDLIFE

Philadelphia, PA - Pennsylvania public health, sportsmen and environmental advocates today denounced a Bush administration proposal to roll back standards for toxic 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 Arthur Stamoulis, Policy Analyst for Clean Air Council. "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. The utility sector emitted 7,427 pounds of mercury into the air in Pennsylvania in 2001, more than any other states except Texas and Ohio, according to the latest available federal reports. Additionally, according to 2001 EPA data, 43 states have issued consumption advisories for mercury contaminated fish. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a statewide fish advisory for mercury contamination in all of the Commonwealth's rivers and lakes.

"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."

"According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in twelve women of child-bearing age in the U.S. already have unsafe levels of mercury in their blood," said Teresa Mendez-Quigley, Project Director for Women's Health & Environmental Network (WHEN). "That means that more than 300,000 babies born each year are exposed to unsafe levels of the neurotoxin, which can cause developmental defects."

"Toxic mercury pollution has a serious impact on fish and wildlife," said Melody Zullinger, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. "Outdoor recreation is an important part of the economy of our state. We should be able to enjoy this pastime without the fear that our fish, wildlife, and water resources are being poisoned by mercury and unsafe to consume."

"Nationwide, EPA has only scheduled three public hearings on their sweeping new rules for toxic mercury. Thankfully, one of those hearings will be in Philadelphia," said Stamoulis. The others are in Chicago and Research Triangle Park, NC.

EPA scheduled hearings in Pennsylvania after receiving a request for hearings in the region by Clean Air Council, WHEN, the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs and twenty-five other organizations, as well as separate requests from Congressmen Robert Brady and Joseph Hoeffel.