Date: 2004-03-18
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to be here this afternoon and I thank my colleague from Maine for being willing to come to the floor and talk about a very serious issue. I also applaud my colleagues for their hard work in bringing us together this afternoon. I think there will be others. to talk about a serious public health crisis that our country faces. That crisis is caused by mercury pollution. It is not only a national problem. it is also a very local one as well. The State of Texas leads the Nation in mercury pollution. Mercury emission from power plants is the major culprit. These plants dumped 8.968 pounds in 2001 alone. As a result. the whole gulf coast region has been placed under a consumption advisory. Our major fishing Mr. ALLEN. I thank my friend from lakes are subject to such advisories. Texas and I apipreciate her willingness Mr. Speaker. the citizens of Texas to engage in this issue and take a leadare urging us to take prompt and effec- ership role in trying to protect our tive action to clean up mercury pollu- citizens from the effects of mercury tion from power plants. The Environ- pollution. mental Protection Agencys current I want to go back to the issue that proposals on mercury fall far short of we always hear about whenever we what the law requires. The agencys wind up talking about new kinds of enproposals fail to -protect the health of vironmental controls on a toxic pollutour children and our environment. This ant. Industry always says. "Its too exis especially true for Texas. where mer- pensive. we cant do it" every single cury emissions would increase. not de- time. But the reduction levels that are crease. under the proposed plan. We proposed by the EPA are really embarask the EPA to carry out the require- rassing for our country. In February. ments of the Clean Air Act to protect the Southern Company. one of the largour Nation from toxic mercury con- est mercury emitters in the world. antamination. We urge the agency to im- nounced that recently installed merpose a 90 percent reduction in the mer- cury control technologies at the Ernest cury leaching from coalburning power Gaston coal plant in Alabama are replants. moving about 80 percent of the merLast year. EPA proposed two altdr- cury right now. Right now. They are native rules to address mercury emis- very. very close to that 90 percent sions. Unfortunately. both of these pro- standard that would be the goal. The posals failed to meet clean air direc- companys experts noted that this tives under section 112(d) for cleaning would barely comply with some draft up mercury. EPAs proposals permit versions of a MACT standard. a maxfar more mercury pollution. and for imum achievable control technology years longer. than the Clean Air Act standard. but they are complying. allows. This is playing games with the They are there. Furthermore. EPAs health of our Nation. Time and again own data shows that most modern scientists around the world have prov- coalfired power plants can and do en the toxicity of mercury. The agencys own scientists just released a achieve greater than 90 percent control study finding that approximately of mercury and other toxic chemicals. study findngtat aproxaely According to both industry and De630.00 infants. as my colleague said partment of Energy pilot tests and tesearlier. that were born in the United timony .in front of the Committee on States in the dawn of this millennium Energy and Commerce. 90 percent rehad blood mercury levels higher than ductions in mercury emissions are feawhat is considered safe. This is a dou- sible and economical today. We are not bling of previous estimates. Mercury emissions have also con- suggesting they should be imposed taminated 10 million acres of lakes and today. There needs to be sometime. 400.000 miles of streams. Soaring mer- But this could all be done between now cury levels have triggered advisories and 2007 or 2008 and be completely feawarning Americas 41 million rec- sible. reational fishermen that the fish they The data from EPAs interim report catch may not be safe to eat. Further- on the control of mercury from coalmore. evidence continues to mount fired boilers demonstrates that power that mercury causes reproductive probT plants with fabric filters and wet lems in wildfowl populations such as scrubbers are capturing over 90 percent loon and mallard ducks. Other fisheat- of their mercury when bituminous coal ing wildlife populations are at risk as is burned. There are a number of techwell i nical ways in which you can actually Mr. Speaker. we can address this pub- collect mercury. Carbon injection and lic health and environmental problem a compact hybrid particulate collector if we just would do it. According to baghouse. socalled. is one way of many States. industry experts and past achieving the goal. Other industries EPA analyses. the technology to dra- like hospitals and city waste incinermatically clean up these plants is ators have been required to meet that available and affordable. I am con- 90 percent standard for over a decade. cerned that EPA does not fully analyze In February of this year. the genthe range of controls recommended by tleman from Maine and State utility and environmental and I both wrote to the Bush administrapublic health members of EPAs advi- tion asking that Maine people be given sory group on this rule. I do not know the opportunity to comment on EPAs -what is holding EPA hostage. but once proposed mercury emissions rules. again they are failing to fulfill its rea- There is a reason why those of us in sonability to adopt standards that pro- Maine are particularly concerned tect the public health and environ- about it. There is four times as much ment. mercury in the feathers of loons in I look forward to working with my Maine as there is in the feathers of colleagues to call on EPA to develop loons in Oregon. The wind blows west appropriate mercury standards that re- to east. It always has and it always duce mercury emissions in the shortest will. Coming particularly out of those time possible to protect public health. coalfired power plants in the Midwest. and the environment. I thank my col- mercury emissions are traveling east league for this opportunity to make a and northeast and contaminating statement on this issue. many of our most scenic areas in the country. We do not have a single coalfired power plant in the State of Maine. but our mercury is coming from other parts of the country. We need help. The gentleman from Maine and I. as I said. wrote to the Bush administration in February asking simply that we have the right to a hearing. that EPA come to Maine and hold a hearing. They refused. The closest they got to us was Philadelphia. If the EPA would not come to Maine. I decided. well. we would have a hearing there. anyway. I would call the mock hearing. I would invite interested members of the public. And they came. they came in force and their testimony was compelling. both as to the health risks of mercury and the inadequacy of the Bush administration proposal. Mr. Speaker. I would like to submit the testimony given at that hearing in Maine as a part of the record of this proceeding here.