Mercury pollution cutback slow in state, Cooper says

Thursday, 06/24/04

Mercury pollution cutback slow in state, Cooper says

By LARRY BIVINS
Tennessean Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Federal officials aren't doing enough to reduce mercury pollution that threatens women of childbearing age in Tennessee and other states, Rep. Jim Cooper and other House members said yesterday.

The lawmakers are urging the Bush administration to adopt stronger requirements for reducing mercury pollution, which can cause developmental and neurological problems in fetuses, infants and young children.

In a letter to the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Cooper and Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, expressed concern that the agency is giving polluters — primarily coal-fired power plants — too much time to install cleaning devices. The letter was signed by 184 lawmakers from 38 states.

Studies show that Tennessee has the 13th highest level of mercury pollution among states and ranks in the top 10 of states with the most mercury "hot spots."

"In Tennessee, we are privileged to live in a state that is celebrated for its beautiful lakes and streams and abundance of natural resources," said Cooper, a Nashville democrat. "Unfortunately we live in a state that suffers from one of the most hazardous levels of airborne mercury pollution."

An EPA study found that 630,000 infants were born with unsafe levels of mercury in their blood in 1999 and that 8% of women of childbearing age have dangerous levels of the contaminant in their systems.

In December, EPA administrator Michael Leavitt announced a proposal calling for a 70% reduction in mercury emissions by 2018. The goal set by the Clinton administration was a 90% reduction by 2008.

"We are disappointed by the EPA's continuing failure to take into account both its own analyses and the potential presented by existing technology" to get the job done quicker, Cooper and Allen wrote.

EPA issued a statement noting that this is the first time the agency has proposed rules on mercury emissions and that officials want to make sure all voices are heard and options considered before making a final determination.

"The final rule will be influenced by the availability of technology that has been adequately tested and available for industry-wide deployment," the statement said.

The public comment period on EPA's rules is set to end next week, prompting environmentalists, and wildlife and sport fishing groups to step up demands for more stringent mercury emission controls. The agency has received more than 500,000 comments so far.

Earlier this week, 470 sportsmen's groups from 34 states joined the National Wildlife Federation in urging EPA to consider the impact of mercury contamination on children, Cooper said. And last week, Tennessee environmental groups highlighted the problem at a Nashville event.

Stephen Smith, director of the Knoxville-based Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said his group has collected 2,000 comments from the region to send to EPA.