Mercury Pollution Reduction Rules Established...Finally!
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Once again, an energized public made all the difference. After a long-fought battle against mercury polluter interests and their allies, the environment and public health prevailed. The Sierra Club, working with a broad coalition of interests, successfully gained approval of tough, new regulations that will require coal-fired power plants to reduce their toxic mercury emissions by 90%. And unlike the weaker federal mercury rules, the PA regs prohibit mercury pollution trading. So every plant will have to clean up, eliminating the potential for local toxic hot spots. At one point in January , several Senators had planned to try to block the new rules, but the overwhelming public opposition prevented them from getting support for their colleagues. So the new PA mercury regulations have been approved and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the last hurdle overcome. This regulatory fight resulted in the most public comments in support of a proposed rule in the state's history. Of the nearly 11,000 comments filed, only three dozen were opposed to the rule. Sierra Club volunteers and staff can be proud of the results of their hard work. Our unborn and very young children are the beneficiaries. Please send a message of THANKS to Governor Rendell for standing firm against efforts by the polluters to block his mercury rule. Sierra Club® and "Explore,
enjoy and protect the planet."® are registered trademarks
of the Sierra Club. |
