EPA Issues First-Ever Protections against Toxic Mercury

EPA Issues First-Ever Protections against Toxic Mercury

Measure will protect New Mexico women and children from dangerous brain poison

Albuquerque, NM – Late yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the first-ever federal protections against toxic mercury from power plants, including those in New Mexico. Mercury is a dangerous brain poison that poses a particular threat to prenatal babies and young children. Exposure in the bloodstreams of pregnant and nursing women can result in birth defects like learning disabilities, lowered IQ, deafness, blindness and cerebral palsy.

Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury pollution in the United States, pumping more than 33 tons of this dangerous toxin into our air each year. Once in the air, mercury rains down and accumulates in the bodies of fish and shellfish. If people eat fish or seafood from polluted bodies of water, mercury accumulates in their bodies and can be passed from mother to child. Four Corners Power Plant, in northwest New Mexico, ranked among the Top 50 coal plants in the nation with the worst mercury emissions; the Four Corners plant came in 33rd highest out of about 450 U.S. coal plants according to the Environmental Integrity Project.

The new standards for mercury and air toxics will prevent up to 24 premature deaths in New Mexico while creating up to $200 million in health benefits in 2016 according to U.S. EPA.

In response, John Buchser, Chair of the Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter, issued the following statement:
“Each year, more than 300,000 American babies are born exposed to dangerous levels of mercury. Now, after decades of delay, we have the first-ever nationwide protections against this toxic pollutant. These strong, sensible safeguards will slash mercury pollution from power plants by more than 90 percent and improve the air quality for millions of Americans in New Mexico and across the country.

“The Sierra Club applauds the President and his Administration for their courage and resolve in protecting American families – particularly women and children – from this dangerous toxin and for standing up to polluters’ attempts to weaken this life-saving protection. At the three hearings that the EPA held on this issue, Americans showed their overwhelming support for protecting children from mercury. In total, more than 800,000 supportive public comments – a record -- were filed with the Agency.

“Thank you, President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, for standing up for New Mexicans and all Americans who care about clean air and clean water for their families.”
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For more information visit Sierra Club Mercury site