Leahy, Snowe, Others Urge EPA
Not To Weaken Mercury Standards

WASHINGTON (June 7) – Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), joined by 14 other senators, have asked EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman not to relax her  position of last June when she said EPA would continue to develop strict standards for mercury emissions.  The senators are concerned that proposals by the President to modify current Clean Air Act requirements could weaken the existing mercury provisions.

The senators say the Administration’s February 2002 power plant multi-emission proposal sets a different course that falls well short of reductions expected from Whitman’s declaration in June 2001.  Last year Whitman, responding to a letter from many of the same senators, said EPA had initiated the establishment of strict “maximum achievable control technology” (MACT) standards for oil- and coal-fired electric utility units as required under section 112 of the Clean Air Act.  Whitman anticipated proposing regulations in December 2003 and promulgating them in December 2004.   A counterpart letter from House members has also been sent to Administrator Whitman.

In her letter a year ago, Whitman told the senators, “We know from scientific research that despite emissions reductions achieved by the Clean Air Act, serious health and environmental problems caused by air pollution continue and that additional reductions are necessary -- they are necessary now, not decades from now.  We also know that mercury is a very dangerous toxin that has become widespread throughout our environment.  It is crucial that we maintain the course of action initiated in December 2000, for mercury and other pollutants.”

According to EPA estimates, a MACT standard promulgated by December 2004 could achieve up to 90 percent reduction in mercury emissions from all coal-fired boilers by December 2007.  The Administration’s legislative plan proposes to cut mercury emissions from power plants by only 46 percent in 2010 and 69 percent in 2018.  It has been reported that this proposal will replace, rather than complement, the more stringent MACT standards set forth under section 112 of the existing Clean Air Act.  The MACT process also guarantees that emissions of all toxics emitted by power plants will be reduced.  The Administration’s proposal would regulate only mercury, exempting utilities from regulating the 66 non-mercury toxics.

“Vermonters recognize the health threat posed by mercury and we have acted to reduce our exposure,” said Leahy, who authored a bill targeting aging Midwestern coal power plants.  “Mercury pollution is a bigger problem than our states can solve within their own borders.  We need to tackle the mercury mess, and we cannot afford to back away now.  I hope the Administration will not weaken a decision it already made to reduce toxic emissions like mercury.”

Methylmercury is a potent neurotoxin that can cause serious neurological damage in humans, particularly small children.  Most of the mercury that enters the environment comes from man-made sources.  Coal-fired electric power plants comprise the largest single source, producing about one-third of U.S. emissions.  Mercury is an impurity in coal, released into the air when the coal is burned. 

In the letter the senators express their support for a multi-pollutant approach as the next step to build upon the successes of the Clean Air Act, rather than weakening existing provisions of the law and further delaying sizable reductions in mercury and other air toxics emissions.  Leahy for several years has led Senate efforts to address mercury pollution.  Leahy has introduced a bill, cosponsored by Snowe, to reduce mercury emissions from all sources, including power plants and municipal waste incinerators.  

Click Here to read the Senators' letter