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Mercury Action Center
A COLLECTION OF GREAT RESOURCES ON
MERCURY POLUTION
Pennsylvania’s mercury rule has been posted in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin and is now final!! This is a huge victory for Pennsylvania’s environment and wildlife, since it will
require major emission reductions from the state’s largest source of
mercury pollution – coal-fired power plants.
Pennsylvania Federation of
Sportsmen’s Clubs actively supported the development of this important
policy, and we are grateful for all the help of our members and clubs in this
effort.
Mercury Reports and Articles:
The following links pertain to the regulatory review
process in Pennsylvania, which may well become the principal battleground
for the mercury regulation over the next four months.
1. Homepage for the Independent
Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC): www.irrc.state.pa.us/
2. Overview of the regulatory
review process in Pennsylvania: www.irrc.state.pa.us/soon.pdf
3. A list of the IRRC members: www.irrc.state.pa.us/mem_staf.cfm
Senate
Passes SB 1201 Updated: 7-11-06
PFSC Testifies
Before Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee 4-25-06
U.S. Department of
Energy Says Mercury Control Technology Available, Costs Low Sportsmen Urge Legislators to Protect Pennsylvania's
Environment, Economy
US Department of Energy Rebuts
PFSC’s Release on Available Technology
PFSC & TU Send Letter to Legislators 3-14-06
Coalition Calls on DEP to
Reduce Mercury
Citizens for Pennsylvania’s
Future and representatives from a 60 member coalition of public health,
hunting and angling, faith, women's rights, conservation and environmental
organizations held a press conference in the capitol calling on PA’s
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to continue to work on new
regulations that decrease the mercury emissions of coal-fire powered plants
by 90 percent.
9 States Sue Over Mercury
Nine states, including Pennsylvania, filed a lawsuit against the
federal government last week, challenging new regulations they say fail to
protect children and expectant mothers from dangers posed by mercury
emissions from power plants.
Turn Up Heat on Hotspots
(editorial)
Pennsylvania and New Jersey's top environmental
officials warn that even if a new federal rule reduces mercury pollution
nationally as designed, our region will likely remain awash in the toxic
metal. Local "hot spots" could endanger public health.
DEP Challenges EPA’s Mercury Reduction Rule
Environmental
Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty today
announced that Pennsylvania has filed a petition challenging the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to rescind a December 2000
regulatory finding that it is “appropriate and necessary” to regulate
mercury emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants as a hazardous air
pollutant.
PennFuture
Call Bush Mercury Regulations, “Toxic News for Pennsylvania”
Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) today called
the Bush Administration's plan to allow polluters to trade mercury credits
"toxic news for Pennsylvania," and called on the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) to immediately begin regulating poisonous
mercury emissions from the state's power plants.
Letter to DEP
Secretary McGinty
Here is a letter recently
sent from PFSC and 23 other Pennsylvania organizations urging DEP to
move forward with proposed regulations submitted with an earlier petition
to protect public health and the environment in Pennsylvania.
The BioDiversity Research Institute releases “Mercury
Connections”
This report
documents the extent and effects of Mercury Pollution in northeastern North America. This reports documents the
finding from the research institute’s mercury studies from 2001-2005. The
resulting report is a comprehensive overview of how pervasive the Mercury
“problem” is in the northeastern section of the continent. You will need Acrobat Reader
to view this report.
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Higher Levels of Mercury
Seen Polluting Region
The four-year study in
Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada indicates significant levels
of mercury in forest songbirds and other animals that researchers did not
suspect were ingesting mercury.
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What
Anglers Need to Know About Mercury & Fish
This report from the NWF
provides anglers with an overview of the mercury problem and how it affects
their sport. You will need Acrobat Reader
to view this report.
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Cycle of Harm
This NWF Report reveals that
the rain falling over a dozen U.S. states contains levels of
mercury far exceeding what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
considers “safe” for people and wildlife in surface waters. You will need Acrobat Reader
to view this report.
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States
Targeting Mercury
A complete list of states
that have taken Mercury Specific Action, along with what that action is.
The report also contains a list of states that are currently considering
some type of action. You will need Acrobat Reader
to view this report.
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Myths vs.
Facts About Mercury and Power Plants
A fact sheet from the
National Wildlife Federation’s “Clean the Rain” Campaign. You will need Acrobat Reader
to view this report.
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Mercury &
Wildlife
This NWF fact sheet provides
an overview of current scientific studies on the effect of mercury on fish
and wildlife. Citations are provided. You will need Acrobat Reader
to view this report.
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