[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E797-E798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          ``OMNIBUS MERCURY EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT OF 1998''

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS H. ALLEN

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 1998

  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``Omnibus 
Mercury Emissions Reductions Act of 1998.'' This important legislation 
is aimed at protecting our children from mercury, one of the most 
dangerous toxins in our environment.
  Mercury is a naturally occurring, highly toxic element. Its presence 
in our environment has built to dangerous levels due to the lack of 
regulation of power plants, waste incinerators, and some types of 
manufacturing. Those regions downwind from the major pollution sources 
are most at risk because mercury can travel great distances before 
falling to the Earth and washing into our lakes, rivers and streams. My 
home State of Maine, the tailpipe for our nation's polluted air, has 
some of the highest mercury levels in the country. As I've often said, 
the wind travels west to east, always has, always will.
  Our children are most at risk. Mercury poisoning can be devastating 
for children and pregnant women. Contamination can cause damage to the 
developing central nervous system. Adults can also be affected. 
Symptoms range from numbness in extremities to paralysis and kidney 
disease. The most common form of mercury poisoning occurs from eating 
polluted fish. Exposure can also occur through drinking water and soil 
contamination. Several states, including Maine, have issued health 
warnings due to mercury contamination that cover every single body of 
inland water.
  Our wildlife is also in danger. Maine's loons and bald eagles, 
symbols of the state's beauty and natural habitat, have mercury levels 
high enough to interfere with reproduction. In fact Maine's bald eagle 
reproductive rates have remained well below the rest of the country. 
Studies have found significantly high levels of mercury and other 
toxins in eggs and eaglets.
  The Clean Air Act has achieved remarkable success since its 
inception. Our families are breathing easier because we have reduced 
the emission levels of lead and other toxins. Unfortunately, mercury 
has fallen through the cracks. The Environmental Protection Agency 
recently released its ``Mercury Study Report to Congress.'' This 
detailed report contains volumes of information on the dangers of 
mercury and how to control the levels emitted into our environment. Now 
that we have the long-awaited report, we must take action.
  The legislation I am introducing will do just that. The ``Omnibus 
Mercury Emissions Reduction Act of 1998'' requires the EPA to set 
mercury emission standards for the largest sources. The bill sets an 
emissions reduction standard of 95 percent for coal-fired powerplants 
and other utilities, as well as incinerators and chlor-alkali plants. 
Many may argue this cannot be done, that the costs of controls will be 
much too high. I disagree. We know mercury can be reduced or removed 
from powerplants and products. Technology exists for companies to meet 
the standards, and this bill will allow them to choose the best 
approach for their facility. We have reduced or eliminated other 
toxins, without the catastrophic effects the utilities predicted. The 
time has come to do it with mercury.
  When I ran for office last year, people in Maine told me the country 
needed to continue the environmental strides made by leaders like 
Senator Edmund Muskie and Senator George Mitchell. Maine is proud of 
its tradition of environmental activism. Maine Governor Angus King and 
his administration have taken steps to reduce the levels of mercury 
emitted by sources within Maine. That, however, will not protect our 
children from sources that cross our boundaries. Maine has cleaned up 
its act, and now we must ask for the rest of the nation to help.
  Just five years ago, 27 states had issued mercury advisories covering 
almost 900 water bodies. Today, the number of states with

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advisories has grown to 39, and the number of water bodies affected has 
increased to 1,675. The problem is getting worse, not better. We are 
heading down a path where the entire nation could be under a mercury 
advisory. Do you want to explain to your children and grandchildren 
that the reason they can't eat the fresh water fish they just caught is 
because we failed to take action necessary to protect them?
  Mr. Speaker, mercury is one of our last remaining unregulated toxins. 
We must act, and we must act fast. This is not an easy task. We can't 
see the mercury dispersed through the air and falling to the ground. 
However, we now know more about mercury than we ever have. We know the 
solutions to the problem and we have the technology to fix it. We must 
implement new strategies now. The future of our environment for our 
children and grandchildren is at stake.

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