May 4, 2004

STATEMENT DURING MOTHERS OPPOSED TO MERCURY (MOM) PRESS CONFERENCE

EMILY LINN, PROGRAM MANAGER, CLEAN AIR COUNCIL:

"Mercury pollution poses a serious public health threat across the nation-and Pennsylvanians are hit particularly hard because we are downwind of so many old, dirty power plants."

"Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury emissions in the United States. Pennsylvania's power plants emit more mercury pollution than those in any other states except for Texas and Ohio."

"According to the most recent EPA data, Pennsylvania's power plants released 7,427 pounds of toxic mercury into the air in 2001. The biggest source of mercury pollution in the entire country was Keystone Power Plant in western Pennsylvania."

"All of this pollution travels downwind, and gets into waterways when it rains. According to a study of EPA data, 92% of rain samples collected in Pennsylvania have levels of mercury in them that exceed EPA's human health standards for mercury in lakes. Each and every one of Pennsylvania's lakes, rivers and streams is under a fish consumption advisory from the Department of Environmental Protection that warns people to limit their consumption of fish due to toxic contamination."

"The technology exists to greatly reduce mercury pollution from power plants. Other industrial sources of mercury pollution, such as municipal solid waste incinerators, have already achieved huge reductions in their mercury emissions. Using filters and other technologies, a number of power plants have also reduced their emissions by up to 90%."

"The technology exists to solve this problem. The only thing that is missing is the political will to make dirty power plants clean up their act."

"I don't want my future children to be put in harms way by toxic mercury. I pray that my hair sample shows that I do not have dangerous levels of mercury in my blood. But mercury pollution is not an individual problem. This is a problem that doesn't have to exist. The Bush administration should enforce the Clean Air Act and make dirty power plants reduce their toxic emissions."