EPA Approves Northeast’s Plan to Curb Mercury Pollution From Midwest Coal Plants

Contact
Colin Durrant, CLF Director of Communications
617.850.1722

Boston, MA (December 21, 2007) – The Environmental Protection Agency today approved tough mercury reduction standards developed by Northeast states under the Clean Water Act to cut pollution from Midwest coal power plants and other out-of-state sources by 90%. The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), a New England-based environmental group that led an effort to pursue the stronger limits, said the plan is key to reducing the threat mercury poses to rivers, lakes and fish throughout the region.

“Now the Northeast states can fulfill their legal right to control mercury pollution entering their borders and affecting the health and safety of their residents,” said CLF president Philip Warburg. “This highly toxic pollutant still poses a serious danger to our communities, water bodies and numerous animal species, including loons, smallmouth bass and otters”

Though the Northeast states have all adopted laws to reduce mercury from in-state sources, mercury pollution from out-of-state sources persists. According to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), elevated levels of mercury have appeared in fish populations throughout the Northeast and 10,175 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, 46,207 river miles, and an additional 25 river segments are listed as impaired primarily due to mercury entering the region from out-of-state sources.

On October 24, the six New England states and New York asked the EPA to enforce their cleanup plan under the Clean Water Act through a TMDL, or total maximum daily load. A TMDL calculates the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can absorb and still meet federal water quality standards. The TMDL calls for 90% reductions in mercury emissions in Midwest power plants through existing reduction control technology and concludes that implementation of such controls is achievable and cost-effective and should commence immediately.

For more information visit: http://www.neiwpcc.org/mercury/.

The Conservation Law Foundation works to solve the environmental problems that threaten the people, natural resources and communities of New England. CLF’s advocates use law, economics and science to design and implement strategies that conserve natural resources, protect public health, and promote vital communities in our region. Founded in 1966, CLF is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. It has offices in Boston, Massachusetts; Concord, New Hampshire; Providence, Rhode Island; Montpelier, Vermont; and Brunswick, Maine.