Call to Action Against Mercury Polution

Submitted by  Donna Lisenby Director of Water Programs, Appalachian Voices

There is an urgent matter that could determine whether the fish from our streams are fit to eat and whether thousands of newborns will be born with neurological disorders. The problem? Mercury emitted by dirty and outdated coal-fired power plants.

Take action- tell the EPA to protect our streams and children from mercury pollution.

Mercury, a toxic heavy metal, contaminates our air and water, and works it way up through the food chain from small fish to large fish, then to people. Seven out of ten women of child-bearing age have enough mercury in their blood to cause damage to their fetus should they become pregnant.

The EPA is currently accepting comments on a proposal to make utilities clean up their act and reduce mercury pollution by 91%. The deadline to submit comments is midnight, Thursday, August 4.

Coal-fired power plants are the biggest source of mercury pollution and almost every state in the country has a fish mercury advisory. The Clean Air Act requires utilities to use what's called "Maximum Available Control Technology" to stop mercury pollution before it reaches our air and water.  Forty percent of power plants already use this technology.

Furthermore, a study by CERES and Political Economy Research Institute of the University of Massachusetts shows that this proposal and the Clean Air Transport Rule, which was just finalized, will create a combined total of over 290,000 jobs.

Utilities are fighting to weaken this standard, and while they have their high-powered lobbyists and a lot of money, we have thousands of citizens who care deeply about air and water.

Please take action to protect all Americans from mercury pollution.

For clean streams and healthy babies,

Donna Lisenby

Director of Water Programs