HARRISBURG—Bills
have been introduced in the state House of Representatives and state
Senate that would block the Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) from requiring Pennsylvania’s power plants to reduce mercury
pollution beyond weaker federal standards. The controversial “Clean Air
Mercury Compliance Act” (HB 2610 and SB 1201) would prohibit
Pennsylvania from joining with several other states—including New
Jersey—in adopting mercury standards that go beyond the Bush
administration’s rule.
“The
time is long overdue to reduce dangerous mercury pollution in
Pennsylvania” said Nathan Willcox, energy and clean air advocate for
PennEnvironment. “Legislators in Harrisburg should reject House Bill
2610 and Senate Bill 1201 and allow the DEP to move forward with a
strong state-level mercury rule that will help protect the health of
Pennsylvania’s children.”
Like
lead, even small levels of mercury exposure can affect the way kids
learn, think, memorize and behave. Coal-fired power plants are
responsible for at least 40 percent of the nation's mercury emissions,
and Pennsylvania's power plants have the second highest mercury
emissions in the country. This mercury accumulates in lakes and rivers,
contaminating fish.
Last
spring, the Bush administration established a mercury reduction rule
that declassifies mercury as a toxic pollutant and allows polluters to
trade emissions credits, so that the oldest and dirtiest power plants
in the country—many of which are located in Pennsylvania—could buy
their way out of significant mercury emission reductions.
“The
Bush administration has dramatically weakened federal, health-based
mercury standards instead of implementing Clean Air Act protections
that would go much further to reduce mercury pollution and protect
public health” said Willcox. “In the wake of the federal government
taking steps backwards on this issue, it is critical that Commonwealth
officials step in and protect public health by implementing state-level
regulations that will achieve greater mercury emission reductions.”
There
is an ongoing public process through which DEP is developing its
mercury proposal to allow input from all interested parties. This
process has already included feedback from business, utility and coal
mining interests, as well as the environmental and public health
communities. In addition, DEP is expected to open a public comment
process later this year, in which all Pennsylvanians will have the
opportunity to comment on their proposal.
“There
is no need for the Legislature to derail this public process” said
Willcox. “Concerned citizens should urge their elected officials to
abandon this misguided effort and oppose HB 2610 and SB 1201.”
