On March 16th, 2011 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a long-awaited rule to set national standards for mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can cause a variety of health problems from learning disorders to heart attacks. Luckily, this rule, which was 20 years in the making, will require coal plants to significantly lower their mercury emissions. Due to the severe public health impacts of mercury and other toxic air pollution, this proposed rule stands to cause dramatic improvements in air and water quality as well as the economy.
According to EPA, the rule will:
"Prevent 91 percent of the mercury in coal burned in power plants
from being emitted to the air; reduce acid gas emissions from power
plants by 91 percent; and [reduce] sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from power plants by 55 percent."
The positive health impacts of this proposal will lead to monetary
benefits as high as $140 billion while the compliance costs are only around $10.9 billion. This means that for every $1 spent to reduce pollution we will see as much as $14 in health benefits.
How you can take action
- Attend a public hearing or submit written comments telling EPA that you support this rule.
- Submit written comments through email to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov. Please put the following in your email's subject line: "Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0234".
- There will be a public hearing in Atlanta, Ga. on May 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can sign up to speak by emailing or calling Ms. Pamela Garrett at EPA. Her email is garrett.pamela@epa.gov and her phone number is 919.541.7966.
- To learn more specifics about how to become involved, please visit http://bit.ly/HgRule
Use these potential talking points:
According to EPA, each year the standards will prevent up to:
- 17,000 premature deaths, 11,000 heart attacks, 120,000 asthma attacks;
- 12,200 hospital & emergency room visits, 4,500 cases of chronic bronchitis;
- 5.1 million restricted activity days
Thank you for supporting EPA's mercury rule proposal!
Sincerely,
Your SOCM Team