Mercury is a particularly harmful toxic air pollutant because after settling from the air onto our waters and forests, mercury accumulates up the food chain as fish and wildlife consume the contamination.

Despite the source of mercury pollution being to the south of the loons’ habitat, wildlife scientist Dr. Evers explains in this audio clip from the town hall that mercury from smokestacks can travel long distances in the air, and is transformed into a more toxic form–methylmercury–in the wetlands and forests of Northern Michigan.

Mercury Town Hall Draws Michigan Conservationists

Yesterday, over 14,000 Michiganders joined a tele-town forum on mercury with Dr. Evers and sportsman Bob Garner, former host of Michigan Out-of-Doors television show. Michigan anglers and conservationists participated in a discussion on the importance of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new mercury and air toxics pollution limits to Michigan’s lakes and wildlife.

Coal-fired power plants are releasing unlimited mercury pollution into the air, but as Dr. Evers explains, there is new technology to scrub much of the pollution from smokestacks.

Now, efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize mercury and air toxics pollution limits will finally put a stop to unlimited mercury air pollution from coal-fired power plants.

Support for New Mercury Limits

Anglers and conservationists on the tele-town forum spoke up in support of strong air pollution limits to protect wildlife impacted by mercury and other air toxics. Anglers who eat what they catch are at the frontline of mercury exposure.

Listen as Bob Garner explains that it was Michigan outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen who fought for the protections to air and water that we enjoy today. Once again, Michigan’s conservationists are showing their support for protections to our air, lakes and wildlife.

Michiganders Call on Senators Levin and Stabenow

Some members in Congress want to weaken clean air and water protections, representing polluters’ profits rather than protecting American’s health.

It is up to Michigan anglers and conservationists to tell Michigan Senators Carl Levin and Senator Debbie Stabenow that it is time to ensure the limits on mercury and air toxics are not blocked by polluter-funded efforts to undermine the Clean Air Act.

Iconic waters, like the Chesapeake Bay and the Everglades, provide jobs, food, drinking water, transportation, power, recreation and wildlife habitat. They also provide a sense of regional and national identity for many Americans. Members of the Great Waters Coalition traveled from all over the country to reach out to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.  Water advocates spoke out about how extreme budget cuts to restoration funding and harmful policy riders are placing vital water resources at risk, as well as the people and wildlife that depend on them. Great Waters Coalition members also met with water champions, like Great Lakes lawmaker Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who are also committed to protecting our precious national resources.  

Sen. Stabenow & Great Waters Coalition

“We need to hold government accountable to reduce our debt, but abandoning clean water protection and putting thousands of jobs in jeopardy is shortsighted and wrong,” Sen. Stabenow said. 

 “America’s Great Waters are essential to our nation’s growth and prosperity, providing not only drinking water but valuable jobs to millions of Americans,” said Malia Hale, co-chair for the America’s Great Waters Coalition and director for national restoration and water resources at the National Wildlife Federation.  “For example, a recent study by the Brookings Institution found that restoring the Great Lakes will bring the eight-state region at least $2 in economic benefits for every $1 of federal investment.”  

 More than 75 local, regional and national organizations speak with a united voice as part of America’s Great Waters Coalition. Click here to find out more about the coalition partners and the important work that they do.