Common Loons are in jeopardy from toxic mercury pollution that contaminates fish they eat

Sen. Inhofe is pushing a bill that would revoke the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to limit mercury pollution under the Clean Air Act. Quite simply, it would be an act of politicians taking wildlife and public health protections out of the hands of EPA scientists. The National Wildlife Federation has been pushing for new mercury standards since the Clinton administration. After 13 years of delay and debate, the EPA’s new rule will prevent 11,000 thousand premature deaths, 4,700 heart attacks, 130,000 cases of childhood asthma and 6,300 cases of acute bronchitis. Over 900,000 Americans have spoken out in support of it.

One of them was Brenda Archambo, the National Wildlife Federation’s outreach consultant in Michigan (transcribed section starts around 9:30):

Click here to view the embedded video.

Brenda Archambo: Last year, the sportsmen’s community joined together and about 330 sports organizations across the country representing several hundred thousand members spoke up on behalf of the Clean Air Act and the reduction of mercury for our outdoor heritage and our hunting and fishing heritage, urging our members of Congress to please look seriously at this rule and in defense of the Clean Air Act.

Sen. Barrasso: Ms. Archambo, Sen. Lautenberg just made a comment about enemy of good and the perfect and some of the things I talked about a little earlier. I had mentioned in my opening statement the Senate had an opportunity  to reduce mercury emissions by 70% back in 2005. Would Michigan lakes, sturgeon, sportsmen, familes had been better off had those reductions already gone into effect when they had an opportunity to pass that back  in 2005?

Brenda Archambo: Absolutely, but going forward – I understand history is important, but I’m looking out in front, where we go next.

Sen. Barrasso is referring to the infamous “Clear Skies” initiative, the Orwellian name given to President George W. Bush’s effort to gut Clean Air Act protections. It was written by James Connaughton, who lobbied for big polluters before joining the Bush White House and does so again today. Among the bill’s main sponsors in Congress were two of Big Oil’s All-Stars, Sen. Inhofe and Rep. Joe Barton. The National Wildlife Federation fought hard against the Clear Skies Act and ultimately a bipartisan group of senators joined together to stop it.

Now here’s how Sen. Inhofe’s Environment & Public Works Committee staff misrepresented Brenda’s testimony on their site: “Would Public Health and the Environment Be Better Off Today If President Obama Voted in Favor of Clear Skies? National Wildlife Federation Says: ABSOLUTELY.” How do you get that from what Brenda said? Zero mention of President Obama. Zero endorsement of Clear Skies.

“The Senate EPW minority staff is shamefully twisting my words,” Brenda says. “I was for reducing mercury pollution in 2005, and am for reducing mercury pollution today. To imply that I supported gutting the Clean Air Act in the process brazenly misleads the public.”

It’s clear what Sen. Inhofe and his staff are really trying to do here. They’re manipulating Brenda’s testimony in a ham-handed attempt to embarrass the White House.

An odd part of Sen. Inhofe’s attack: He’s essentially saying a 70% reduction in mercury emissions would’ve been just dandy, but the 91% reduction proposed by the EPA would destroy the economy. Is that really such a huge difference? Or is he just playing politics with public health?

Sen. Inhofe’s dirty tactic here is a huge tell that he knows what a lousy hand he’s got. He and a handful of America’s worst industrial polluters are up against nearly a million Americans who’ve said loud & clear they support strong mercury standards.

Take Action

Let your senators know you oppose dirty attacks on clean air standards. Please email your senators right now asking them to stand up for wildlife and public health.

Historic Limits on Toxic Mercury Become Final

December 21 – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized new air pollution standards that will result in the first-ever national limits on the amount of mercury spewing from the nation’s coal-fired power plants. Over 20 years in the making, the new pollution limits on power plants will cut mercury emissions by 91 percent, while also cutting acid gas, arsenic, lead and nickel emissions.

“Our children and grandchildren will inherit a safer world thanks to the leadership of President Obama and Administrator Jackson,” said  Larry Schweiger, National Wildlife Federation president and CEO. “At long last, these prudent and overdue limits on unchecked mercury and toxic air pollution will ensure our fish will be safe to eat, and our children can breathe easier.”

Groups Move to Protect People, Property and Wildlife in Flood-Prone Areas

December 21 – The National Wildlife Federation asked a judge to prevent the U.S. government from issuing federally-backed flood insurance policies for new development in risky flood-prone areas around Puget Sound.  The motion for a preliminary injunction, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleges the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) failed to ensure that new floodplain management standards protect endangered species like salmon and orcas.

“People, communities, and salmon are all put at risk by harmful development in floodplains,” said Dan Siemann, senior environmental policy specialist for the National Wildlife Federation in Seattle.

National Wildlife Federation’s Na’Taki Osborne Jelks Appointed to Conservation Committee

December 21 – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced last week appointees for the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) in a press release. Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, Manager, Education & Advocacy Programs of the NWF’s Southeastern regional office was appointed to the Committee. The Committee is composed of twenty two representatives from conservation, work force development, service and federal groups nationwide.

The Committee will provide recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior on how to engage young Americans in public lands and water restoration and provide recommendations on how to build on the important ongoing work of local, state, federal and non-profit youth conservation corps that engage young Americans in hands-on service and job training experiences on public lands and open spaces.

New Yorkers Call For Action on Offshore Wind

December 21 – A broad coalition of New York’s environmental, business, and labor organizations today called on state and federal leaders to move forward with offshore wind development. New York has substantial offshore wind resources and there are currently several proposals to develop job-producing clean energy off the coast of Long Island.

The Wind Works 4 Long Island Coalition set a single, clear message: It is time to get moving and generate much-needed clean energy for New York from offshore wind.

“Governor Cuomo has a golden opportunity to lead the nation in the pursuit of local, job-producing clean energy from offshore wind,” said Catherine Bowes, Senior Policy Representative at National Wildlife Federation.

Coalition: 2012 Budget ‘Significant Victory for Millions Who Depend on Great Lakes’

December 20 – The Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition is praising the 2012 federal budget bill, which has passed both chambers of Congress and is waiting to be signed into law by President Obama. The budget provides $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to clean up toxic pollution, restore wildlife habitat, stop invasive species and reduce polluted run-off from farms and cities.

And here are highlights from NWF in the News:

• CNNMoney: Keystone oil sands pipeline: Obama’s hot potato
• Public News Service: New Air Quality Standards Could Improve CO’s Lakes, Rivers
• Associated Press: Environmental groups sue US over flood management

For more, visit www.nwf.org/News

via NWF

Smashing records from previous public comment periods, over 800,000 Americans, with tens-of-thousands of those being National Wildlife Federation members, sent a crystal clear message to the Environmental Protection Agency that it’s go-time to rein in harmful air toxics.

During the EPA’s comment period, NWF teamed up with a coalition of 200 public health, faith, and conservation groups to marshal support from every state and corner of the nation, support the EPA in their efforts to curb dangerous mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants.

When the comment period started last March, EPA administrator Lisa Jackson called the proposed new rules an environmental “milestone.”

“Once the standards are in place, widespread use of existing pollution-control technology will prevent an estimated 17,000 premature deaths and 11,000 heart attacks each year. These safeguards will also protect against 120,000 incidents of childhood asthma symptoms and ensure 11,000 fewer cases of acute bronchitis in children each year, making this is one of the largest steps forward in protecting our kids from toxic air pollution in a generation.”

Coal Pollution to Blame

via EDF.org

Where does all this nasty pollution come from?  Coal-fired power plants are the single largest source of mercury pollution, arsenic and acid gases, and account for 25 percent of all toxic metal emissions in the United States. Furthermore, coal-fired power plants are responsible for 99 percent of all mercury emissions from the power sector in the United States.

Here’s how NWF’s Joe Mendelson explains it:

“Nearly all of our exposure to mercury occurs through eating fish and shellfish. Mercury pollution spewing from power plants settles in our lakes and rivers where microscopic organisms convert the inorganic mercury into methylmercury. This form of mercury accumulates up the food chain in fish and then into people when we eat fish.”

The mercury safeguards proposed by the EPA represent a strong standard that will for the first time cut mercury emissions from power plants nationwide by 91 percent, reduce arsenic and acid gases by 91 percent, prevent 12,200 trips to the hospital, and save up to 17,000 lives each year once it is implemented.

Threats Are Dangerous and Widespread

via Charles and Clinton Robinson

Every state has issued a fish advisory of some type because of unsafe mercury levels according to the National Wildlife Federation’s recent report, “Game Changers.” Roughly half of U.S. lakes and reservoirs have mercury amounts exceeding safe levels and nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury, according to EPA. Over half of human-caused mercury in the U. S. comes from coal-fired plants.

via Sierra Club

Sportsmen showed they are fed up with mercury warnings, toxic fish and fouled waterways.  Hundreds of hunting and fishing groups organized events, signed letters and lobbied Congress to stop politicizing common sense steps to protect our health and heritage.

Mercury can also affect the human nervous system. At certain levels, mercury is particularly dangerous to babies and young children. In adults, mercury can harm peripheral vision, cause muscle weakness, affect coordination and impair speech, hearing and walking.

In the clip below, EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe talks about why the proposed EPA rules on mercury and air toxics coming from power plants are good for public health and the economy and answers critics who say we should keep polluting.

Click here to view the embedded video.