The EPA held hearings on Thursday, May 26 in consideration of strong national standards on mercury and other toxic emissions found in our air. Mercury, a neurotoxin which can cause birth defects and developmental problems, is also recognized as a carcinogen.
Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, elected officials, physicians, health advocates, faith leaders, citizens who have lived their entire lives as next door neighbors to coal plants, and yes, environmental leaders, covered a long list of reasons for adopting, and enforcing, these standards. There were very few people who opposed them, and most were working for a company creating the toxic emissions.
Chris Hobson of the Southern Company said in his testimony that he didn't know if EPA has the authority to regulate "HAZARDOUS air pollutants like mercury." Which raises the question: if Southern Company testifies that mercury and other emissions they generate are hazardous, shouldn't they be interested in protecting us from them?
Americans have waited 21 years since stronger clean air standards were announced for consideration. My husband and I raised our daughter from birth to 21 years old in that time frame. She has lived her entire life with air that is dirtier than it has to be. Why should we or anyone else wait any longer, as industry leaders beg?
Tom Pierce with the Kentucky Sierra club summed it up nicely, "I would urge you to turn a blind ear to those who say they need more time to kill us."
Katherine Helms Cummings
FACE Executive Director
FACE is a grassroots organization based in Washington County, Georgia. It was organized in 2008 by local residents who oppose a proposed 850 megawatt coal fired power plant.
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