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to Regulate Coal-Fired Power Plants for Mercury Emissions |
12/18/00
Washington, D.C. - The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has endorsed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) determination to regulate the nation's 464 coal-fired power plants for mercury emissions. The determination represents a powerful first step in protecting people and wildlife from mercury -- a potent neurotoxin that contaminates our lakes and streams and is dangerous to fish and the people and wildlife that depend on them.
Mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants -- over 86,000 pounds annually -- are the leading contributor of mercury air pollution.
"The EPA is taking a critical first step to control mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants," said Andy Buchsbaum, NWF's water quality projects manager. "With this determination, EPA can finally plug the loophole that has allowed power plants to escape the regulations that apply to every other major source of mercury. Our challenge now is to work to make sure the final rule will be a strong one."
There is no doubt that the serious health effects from mercury contamination are already evident in people and wildlife. These will only worsen unless the final EPA rule, according to the National Wildlife Federation, ensures the following:
Both reports have found that the rain falling over states such as Maine, Illinois and Massachusetts contains as much as 73 times the EPA "safe" level of mercury for surface water, which has extremely serious health implications for both humans and wildlife.
Kenosha, WI has reported rain levels containing 73 times the EPA's "safe level" of mercury. A report issued two years ago by Wisconsin's Environmental Decade takes a close look at the impact of mercury on Wisconsin's lakes and waters. According to the latest DNR analysis, 341 lakes and rivers in Wisconsin contain mercury tainted fish that are unfit for human consumption.
Earlier in December, a coalition of Wisconsin anglers, conservationists, and environmentalists pushed the DNR's Natural Resources Board toward adoption of a state strategy aimed at reducing mercury pollution.
Mercury that is released into the atmosphere makes its way into lakes and streams through rain and snow, where it gets ingested by fish, and then by humans and wildlife who eat the fish. Mercury is a potent toxin, and when ingested in even tiny amounts can cause devastating effects on the human nervous system, especially for children and the unborn.
Associated illnesses include brain, lung and kidney damage and even death in humans. In wildlife, mercury is a reproductive hazard that can cause harmful effects on species such as frogs, rainbow trout, zebra fish, mallard and American black ducks, loons and terns.
"With so much at stake for both people and wildlife, we're happy to see EPA taking the decisive action needed to limit the mercury emissions that pollute our air and water," said Buchsbaum. "It will be up to the next Administration to turn EPA's determination into real protections for people and wildlife."
For further information or copies of the National Wildlife Federation's Clean the Rain reports, visit the organization's on-line media kit.
To see the full text of the EPA's 12/14 news release, click here. To see the EPA's Mercury issues page, click here.