December 4, 2003
Contact: Arthur Stamoulis - (412) 392-0550 x222

NEW STUDY: PENNSYLVANIA THIRD WORST IN NATION FOR TOXIC POWER PLANT POLLUTION
Coal-Fired Plants are Nation's Worst Source of Toxic Mercury; Technology Exists Today to Drastically Cut Emissions

PITTSBURGH, PA - Clean Air Council today released a new report analyzing the latest data on toxic pollution from power plants. The study, Toxic Neighbors, found that Pennsylvania releases more toxics into the air from power plants than any other state except for North Carolina and Ohio. The study also found that the oldest and dirtiest grandfathered power plants nationwide released more than 91,000 pounds of toxic mercury and mercury compounds into the air-more than any other industrial source.

"This report conclusively shows that in addition to being the number one source for soot and smog pollution, power plants are far and away the biggest source of mercury, acid gases and toxic metals," said Arthur Stamoulis of Clean Air Council. "Pennsylvania's families should be angry that they are being exposed to dangerous levels of mercury, a toxic chemical that can cause serious developmental problems in children."

The study evaluated the 2001 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data, the nation's ultimate database of information on how much toxic air, water and land pollution is released each year by multiple industries. This data is the most recent TRI data available and it confirms that electric utilities are responsible for generating the greatest amount of airborne dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, which has been shown to cause cancer even in small quantities. The report also estimates past and future emissions of several dangerous metals, and summarizes health effects and exposure pathways.

According to the Toxic Neighbors, the most recent data shows that:

• Power plants in Pennsylvania released 59,026,820 pounds of toxic pollution into the air, more than any other state except North Carolina and Ohio.
• Power plants in Pennsylvania released 7,427 pounds of mercury pollution into the air, more than any other state except Texas and Ohio. The Keystone Power Plant in Armstrong County releases more mercury than any other power plant in the nation.
• Power plants in Pennsylvania released 176.57 grams of dioxin pollution into the air, more than any other state. The Cambria Cogen power plant in Cambria County releases more dioxin and dioxin-like compounds than any other power plant in the nation.

The study also documents the fact that existing controls on power plants can reduce mercury pollution by 90% if they were applied to the oldest and dirtiest power plants.

"This report provides even more proof of the public health threat posed by power plants in Pennsylvania," said Mariah Moore-Khanna, Organizer for PennEnvironment. "We need action on this issue from our elected officials and EPA, if we are to have any chance of cleaning up these toxic neighbors."

"It's high time for the dirtiest power plants to reduce the threats that toxic pollutants pose to our families, our future and our environment," said Angela Ledford, Director of Clear the Air. "The technology is there. The question is whether EPA will propose power plant mercury standards that will protect public health by significantly reducing power plant mercury emissions."

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