EPA Would Cut Mercury Pollution and other Toxics; GOP Wants to Knife the MACT
 
WASHINGTON (December 21, 2011) – New standards to limit mercury and other toxics from power plants and other sources were finalized today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a move that will protect America’s children and pregnant mothers from health hazards, and encourage the development of cleaner energy technologies.
 
Reducing mercury and other toxics is feasible, as evidenced by the 91 percent reduction in mercury in Massachusetts since 1996. Yet House Republicans are trying to block this common-sense rule to benefit coal companies operating the oldest, most outdated power plants. Republicans passed a bill through the House of Representatives in September [the TRAIN Act] that would block the air toxic standards -- otherwise known as “Utility MACT” -- from going into effect.
 
A study released yesterday by the United States Geological Survey also found that lakes near cities have higher mercury concentrations than lakes in rural areas, due to proximity to power plants and other industrial sources. For example, it found that mercury in South Reservoir, a lake six miles north of Boston, had mercury levels five times higher than what was found in Crocker Pond, 130 miles north in western Maine.
 
Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee issued the following statement:
 
“This rule to limit mercury and other dangerous toxics is one of those times when you can truly say ‘we’re doing it for the kids’.
 
“While the Obama administration wants to cut mercury pollution to protect kids and pregnant mothers, Republicans want to knife the MACT, stopping these standards from ever going into effect.
 
“The 91 percent reduction in mercury in Massachusetts since 1996 shows that these standards are attainable. The standards will reduce mercury by increasing innovation, as entrepreneurs and inventors will discover new and better ways to cut pollution and move to cleaner forms of energy that produce no pollution at all, like wind and solar power.
 
“I commend the Obama administration, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, and the staff at the EPA for their dedication to the health and well-being of America’s kids.”