Complete list of press releases

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Matt Smelser, 512.731.3023, msmelser@edf.org 

(Houston – March 24, 2011) The United State House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a field hearing today on “EPA’s Greenhouse Gas and Clean Air Act Regulations: A Focus on Texas’ Economy, Energy Prices and Jobs.” 

Jim Marston, EDF’s Texas Regional Director and National Energy Program Director testified before the subcommittee.

Here is an excerpt from his written testimony:

“In 1867, Mark Twain wrote, “The most outrageous lies that can be invented will find believers, if a man only tells them with all his might.” Sadly, that is what is going on here. The members of this committee have been fed some Texas-sized whoppers by certain Texas officials.

This Committee has passed legislation that would strip the EPA of its authority to regulate greenhouse gases. Unfortunately, this legislation provides no alternatives for reducing harmful climate-disrupting pollution and is based entirely on misconceptions about EPA’s role in regulating these deleterious pollutants. When it comes to the flexible permitting system and the regulation of greenhouse gases the problem isn’t EPA – it’s Texas.”

Download the full testimony.

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Jennifer Witherspoon, (415) 293.6067 (o), jwitherspoon@edf.org

(San Francisco–March 17, 2011) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today announced the hiring of Rebecca Shaw as its new Associate Vice President for its Land, Water, and Wildlife program, one of the organization’s four major issue areas. EDF’s Land, Water and Wildlife program is working to preserve and restore ecological health of working lands and rivers by championing ideas that align their needs with the needs of the people, business and rural economies that depend upon them. 

In this newly created senior position, Shaw will report directly to David Festa, Vice President of both EDF’s Land, Water, and Wildlife program and its West Coast operations.

“Rebecca Shaw is a winner and a great addition to our leadership team,” said Festa. “Humanity faces a real and pressing problem in grappling with ways to provide food, water and energy, while preserving our natural systems. I look forward to working with Rebecca to direct our efforts, manage staff and find solutions that empower landowners to be the best stewards of working lands.”

“I am thrilled to be joining Environmental Defense Fund,” said Rebecca Shaw. “I look forward to working with EDF’s leading policy experts on programs that benefit ecosystems and the people and businesses that depend upon them.”

Shaw joins EDF following nine years of leadership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in California, most recently as TNC’s Associate State Director. In that capacity, Shaw led the development and implementation of conservation strategies throughout California, providing the leadership and support to programs such as the climate, marine and water programs and placed-based projects such as Santa Cruz Island restoration, a leading example for successful, innovative conservation. She oversaw the conservation activities of more than 120 geographically dispersed staff, directly supervised and collaborated with nine program directors, including the issue area directors for land and water.

Shaw is a scientist and a recognized thought leader in the field of conservation and climate change. She holds a Ph.D. in Energy and Resources from the University of California at Berkeley, a MA in Environmental Policy from U.C. Berkeley and a BA in biology from UC Santa Barbara.

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. For more information, visit www.edf.org/california. Follow us on Twitter @EDF_CA and read our blog at http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream/.

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Tony Kreindler, 202-445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org

“EPA is addressing the most toxic contaminants that imperil the health of our most precious resource, America’s children. Our nation’s commitment to cleaner air means healthier lives, safer communities and a stronger economy.”

—Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund

View National Mercury Reductions from 1990-2005: http://www.edf.org/documents/11665_National-Mercury-Reductions-1990-2005.pdf.

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Tony Kreindler, 202-445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org

(Washington – March 16, 2011) A new report issued by Environmental Defense Fund today identifies the top 25 emitters of mercury pollution in the U.S. electric power sector as the Environmental Protection Agency takes its first steps to clean up toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants.

The report, Mercury Alert: Cleaning up Coal Plants for Healthier Lives, finds that a huge amount of mercury pollution is released from a relatively small number of plants – ones that have yet to install readily available pollution controls that other plants are already using.

“These 25 plants alone were responsible for nearly a third of all mercury emissions in the power sector, while providing only eight percent of our electricity,” said Steve Cochran, vice president for climate and air at Environmental Defense Fund. “We need federal action to make sure these plants are cleaned up.”

EPA today will propose long-overdue rules under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 to reduce air toxics from power plants, including mercury – a potent neurotoxin – arsenic, dioxin, and acid gases. EDF’s report bolsters the case for federal action to clean up plants that have yet to install readily available pollution controls.

The report highlights the top 25 emitters in 2009. Twenty of them are located within 50-100 miles of some of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, including Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, St. Louis and Austin. Texas leads the nation in pollution from coal-fired power, the report finds.

The report also details recent mercury contamination and fish consumption advisories, reported installations of mercury controls, and state regulations that are driving their implementation.

There are widely available, cost-effective and tested technologies to reduce mercury pollution from power plants by more than 90 percent. Even Arch Coal, the nation’s second largest coal producer, says carbon injection can achieve 90% removal of mercury from Powder River Basin coals.

Only 17 states currently regulate mercury air emissions. The upcoming EPA rule will establish a much-needed national policy to clean up plants that remain largely uncontrolled.

Full report and more information at www.edf.org/top25.

Contact:
Tony Kreindler, 202-445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org

(Washington DC – March 15, 2011) Tomorrow, the Environmental Protection Agency will take its first and long-overdue steps under the Clean Air Act to reduce toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants.

At 9:30 a.m. EDT, Former EPA Assistant Administrator and current Dean of the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services Dr. Lynn Goldman will hold a teleconference to brief reporters on the public health implications of EPA’s proposed rules and the need for federal action to reduce mercury pollution, a potent neurotoxin.

Dr. Goldman will be joined by experts from the Environmental Defense Fund, which will release a report highlighting the top 25 emitters of mercury in the power sector and the local impacts of unchecked air pollution.

The panelists will take questions from all participating journalists following a brief presentation.

*****

WHAT: Expert briefing on health impacts of mercury pollution, EPA’s proposed air toxics rule, and new report on top mercury emitters.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 16 at 9:30 a.m. EDT.

WHO: Dr. Lynn Goldman, dean, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services

Vickie Patton, general counsel, Environmental Defense Fund

Mandy Warner, policy specialist, Environmental Defense Fund

WHERE: 800 732 6870

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Matt Smelser, (202) 572-3272, msmelser@edf.org
Mica Odom, 512.619.8453, modom@edf.org

(Austin, Texas – March 11, 2011) Today Chairman Jim Keffer of the House Committee on Energy Resources filed House Bill 3328 calling for the disclosure of the composition of hydraulic fracturing fluids used in hydraulic fracturing treatments. The bill will require natural gas service companies and operators to disclose the chemicals used in the process of hydraulic fracturing. The bill protects confidential business information while still disclosing the information needed for research, regulatory investigations, and medical treatment.

A statement from EDF’s Scott Anderson on the filing of HB 3328:

“Industry has opposed mandatory disclosure for far too long. EDF supports full disclosure of all chemicals used in natural gas hydraulic fracturing and believes that Chairman Keffer’s HB3328 is truly a win-win for industry, environmental groups, legislators, and the public at large. Disclosure of the fluids used in hydraulic fracturing is key to gaining an understanding of the impact this process has on the environment and human health. Progressive natural gas developers are already proving that it is possible to abide by disclosure and other responsible drilling practices and still maintain a profitable and sustainable business.”

Scott Anderson, Senior Policy Advisor, Environmental Defense Fund

News Release

Contacts: Sean Crowley, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.572.3331, scrowley@edf.org  
David J. Ringer, National Audubon Society, 601.642.7058, dringer@audubon.org  
Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, guidrye@nwf.org  
I Ling Matthews, The Nature Conservancy, 512.623.7245, imatthews@tnc.org  
Brentin Mock, Ocean Conservancy, 504.616.9150, bmock@oceanconservancy.org  
Jeffrey Buchanan, Oxfam America, 202.471.3055, jbuchanan@oxfamamerica.org  

(Washington, DC—March 10, 2011) A coalition of environmental, economic, and social equity organizations today celebrated the news that Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Steve Scalise (R-LA) have formed a bipartisan House Gulf Caucus to support restoration of the region’s environment and economy following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The coalition of groups, working together as the Gulf Renewal Project, support the Oil Commission’s recommendation that 80% of Clean Water Act (CWA) penalties to be paid by BP and other responsible parties go directly to Gulf restoration, to help the region recover economically and environmentally from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and past degradation. Directing the CWA penalties specifically to Gulf restoration will require specific action by Congress. Otherwise, the CWA penalties automatically will be deposited in the Federal Treasury.

“The Gulf Caucus will play a key role in ensuring that the people, the economies and the ecosystems of the Gulf Region get the help they need to recover from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and decades of damage from hurricanes and other factors,” said the joint statement by Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Ocean Conservancy, Oxfam America, and The Nature Conservancy. “The damage from the oil spill is still causing harm to the Gulf culture, economy and environment of the region, and the health of the Gulf ecosystem and the health of our economy are directly linked. Congress must act this year to make good on promises made to the Gulf to ensure the region gets the help it deserves.”

The Gulf region is a vital part of the nation’s economy:

• The Gulf currently supports a $34 billion a year tourism industry, and its fisheries support an estimated $22.6 billion dollars in seafood, commercial and recreational fishing related activity.

• The Gulf produces 40 percent of all the seafood in the lower 48 states.

• The region is home to ten of our nation’s 14 largest ports by tonnage. More than 25 percent of the nation’s waterborne exports pass through Louisiana ports alone.

The organizations working together for restoration as the Gulf Renewal Project include:

Environmental Defense Fund
National Audubon Society
National Wildlife Federation
The Nature Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy
Oxfam America

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NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Tony Kreindler, 202-445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org

(Washington – March 10, 2011) “The House Energy & Power Subcommittee’s vote today is the latest move in an ongoing congressional assault on public health protections. The members seeking to block EPA from addressing carbon pollution have made it no secret that this is part of a broad attack on the Clean Air Act.

“Two weeks ago they voted to allow more toxic mercury pollution in the air, and today they voted to let the biggest polluters in the country escape accountability for greenhouse gases. America deserves better.”

—Steve Cochran, Vice President, Climate & Air

(Washington, D.C. — March 1, 2011) EPA today released a new report, Benefits and Costs of the Clean Air Act, showing that the landmark public-health bill has improved both the U.S. economy and the quality of life for Americans.

The study found the benefits of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments exceeded its costs by wide margins. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) released the following statement in response:

“We have always known that safeguarding human health is one of the wisest investments we can make. Now we have scientific data that shows the Clean Air Act pays for itself thirty times over. This report is the definitive word on the economics of the Clean Air Act. It is the most comprehensive, independent and peer-reviewed study that has been done, and it shows conclusively that the Clean Air Act is a fantastic deal. If anyone still doubts that America can afford to do the right thing, this report should settle the matter. Cleaner air will unquestionably improve our health, our economy, and our lives.”

 - Fred Krupp, EDF President

EPA has more information on their web site.  EDF also has experts available today to talk about the report in more detail.

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Sean Crowley, Environmental Defense Fund, 202-550-6524, scrowley@edf.org 
Ferd Hoefner, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, 202-547-5754, fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net 

(Washington, DC—March 1, 2010) Thirty-five agriculture and conservation groups today sent a letter to the U.S. Senate, urging senators to reject disproportionately high cuts to agriculture conservation programs in the House-passed appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2011 (H.R. 1).  H.R. 1 would cut USDA and FDA discretionary spending—including critical funding for conservation technical assistance for farmers, ranchers and foresters—by 22 percent, more than 50 percent higher than the non-defense average cut of 14 percent. 

“We understand the critical need to right America’s fiscal ship, but…rural America’s contribution to deficit reduction should not be larger than other sectors, and…conservation’s contribution should likewise be proportional,” said the letter by the 35 groups, including Environmental Defense Fund, National Farmers Union and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.  “Unfortunately, the House-passed FY2011 appropriations bill, H.R. 1, not only far overshoots reasonable reduction levels, but also singles out funding for agriculture and rural America for a disproportionately high cut.  These conservation programs are crucial to the health and viability of agriculture and rural America.”

H.R. 1 also unfairly singles out for additional cuts the mandatory funding for conservation and renewable energy programs provided by the 2008 Farm Bill, which both the House and Senate passed with broad bipartisan support.   It would cut more than half a billion dollars from the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) relative to the direct spending levels provided by the 2008 Farm Bill.

“They [conservation programs] deliver demonstrated environmental benefits including clean air, clean water, and abundant habitat for wildlife,” the groups noted.  “They protect soil and farmland to provide lasting food security.  And they bring important money and jobs to rural areas, including increased revenues from hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities.”

Demand for enrollment in these conservation programs routinely exceeds the funds available, even without any cuts.  Farmers and ranchers are waiting to enroll over 1,000,000 acres in the Wetlands Reserve Program and Grasslands Reserve Program.  Applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program often outstrip available funds by two to three times. 

The impact of permanent reductions to mandatory conservation programs is magnified because the funding is reduced for multiple years, though only the first year is credited for appropriations budgeting purposes.  As a result, the savings are not fully realized, and further pressure is put on the farm bill baseline only a year before a new bill must be written. 

“Failure to support our farmers, ranchers, foresters, and natural resource base today will jeopardize our agricultural industry, drive up long term costs for environmental mitigation, and threaten our nation’s food security,” the groups concluded.  “We ask the Senate to recognize the importance of agricultural conservation programs and ensure that reasonable funding levels are continued.  Ensuring that cuts are minimized today will give Congress the latitude to address these crucial issues in the upcoming farm bill debate.”

Below is the complete list of groups that signed the letter:

American Farmland Trust
American Rivers
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Environmental Defense Fund
Gifford Pinchot Task Force
Gulf Restoration Network
Izaak Walton League of America
Land Trust Alliance
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
Midwest Environmental Advocates
Missouri Coalition for the Environment
National Association of Conservation Districts
National Audubon Society
National Farmers Union
National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
National Network of Forest Practitioners
National Organic Coalition
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
National Wildlife Federation
National Woodland Owners Association
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Organic Trade Association
Partners for Sustainable Pollination
Pinchot Institute
Pollinator Partnership
Prairie Rivers Network
Sierra Club
Soil and Water Conservation Society
Sustainable Northwest
Tennessee Clean Water Network
The Nature Conservancy
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Union of Concerned Scientists
Water Environment Federation
Wallowa Resources

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Boston and Waltham, Mass. (February 24, 2011) – InnoCentive, Inc., the global leader in Challenge Driven Innovation, and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today announced a partnership aimed at accelerating environmental innovation in business. The two organizations are seeking companies who will submit “Eco-Challenges” that can be solved through open innovation and crowdsourcing, generating solutions that create business and environmental value.

“For over 20 years, EDF has helped to catalyze environmental innovation through our partnerships with Fortune 500 companies,” said Gwen Ruta, vice president of corporate partnerships for EDF. “Working with InnoCentive, we hope to take it to the next level, building a new model for companies, entrepreneurs and inventors across the globe to come together to quickly solve our most challenging environmental problems.”

The partners will use the unique Challenge Driven Innovation methodology developed by InnoCentive to accelerate open innovation in commercial, nonprofit, and public sector organizations. InnoCentive’s platform brings together cloud-based technology, expert services, and a global network of over 200,000 problem solvers to develop innovative solutions to Challenges submitted by a broad range of organizations. Companies will work with EDF and InnoCentive to identify environmental problems, formulate them as Challenges, and offer financial rewards for the best solutions to the Eco-Challenges.

“EDF is a pioneer in environmental sustainability,” said Dwayne Spradlin, President and CEO of InnoCentive, Inc. “This partnership applies our proven, results-oriented Challenge Driven Innovation approach to the key environmental and sustainability issues facing our world. Organizations today must use every means at their disposal to innovate, especially where human health, prosperity, and our limited natural resources are concerned.”

The partnership between EDF and InnoCentive comes at a crucial time when businesses are endeavoring to tackle environmental problems – in their operations, supply chains, and product usage — while managing resource and budget constraints. The EDF-InnoCentive Eco-Challenge Series will look to identify and solve specific business challenges in the areas of such as energy efficiency, waste production, sustainable foods and products, use of toxic chemicals, and efficient freight transport.

EDF and InnoCentive are seeking companies from a range of industries to work with on developing and hosting Challenges. Companies interested in developing innovative solutions to environmental issues through open R&D and crowdsourcing are invited to participate in the Eco-Challenge Series. Working with EDF and InnoCentive, Challenges submitted by companies can focus on various environmental opportunities throughout the value chain, including:

• Reducing water, energy, chemical or other resource inputs to operations, a supply chain or a distribution network
• Creating innovations in materials or product design
• Reducing impacts associated with the use phase and end of life for products
• Uncovering new technologies, process innovations or business models

Companies interested in presenting a Challenge for this project should contact Justin Olsson at jolsson@edf.org or visit the EDF Business website.

(Washington, D.C. – February 18, 2011) The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to use a budget bill to block clean air protections.

The vote was on an amendment to the Continuing Resolution (HR 1). The amendment, which passed Thursday night, would block all funding for enforcement of limits on mercury and other toxic pollution from cement plants. Mercury pollution causes brain damage in children.

Montana Representative Denny Rehberg (R-MT-At Large) was among those voting for higher levels of mercury in our air and water.

“Congressmen are voting for more toxic mercury in our air and water – and that puts our kids at risk,” said Steve Cochran of Environmental Defense Fund. “This will mean more mercury pollution from dirty plants around America will end up our air, water and food. Experts, not politicians, should be making decisions about air pollution.”

Mercury Contamination and the Dangers to Montana Residents

The mercury we put into our air falls back to earth, contaminates our waters, and gets into our food supply; it’s dangerous enough that pregnant women are warned against eating tuna and other fish because of high mercury levels that could cause brain damage in their unborn babies. Montana’s Flathead Lake and Whitefish Lake are both contaminated by mercury pollution.

Cement plants are the third largest source of manmade mercury emissions in the U.S.
• Montana has two major cement plants.
• One-seventieth of one teaspoon of mercury is enough to contaminate a 20-acre lake and make the fish in it unsuitable for consumption.
• Each year, cement plants emit an estimated 16,000 lbs of mercury into the environment.
• Each year, an estimated 400,000 American newborn babies are exposed to unsafe levels of mercury.
• Enforcing the limits on toxic pollution from cement kilns would lower the amount of mercury they spew into the air by 92 percent, and save up to 2,500 lives each year.

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund

(Washington, D.C. – February 18, 2011)

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to use a budget bill to block clean air protections.

The vote was on an amendment to the Continuing Resolution (HR 1). The amendment, which passed Thursday night, would block all funding for enforcement of limits on mercury and other toxic pollution from cement plants. Mercury pollution causes brain damage in children.
Voting for higher levels of mercury in our air and water were Wisconsin Representatives Paul Ryan (R-WI-1), Ron Kind (D-WI-3), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI-5), Tom Petri (R-WI-6), Sean Duffy (R-WI-7), and Reid Ribble (R-WI-8).

“These congressmen are voting for more toxic mercury in our air and water – and that puts our kids at risk,” said Steve Cochran of Environmental Defense Fund. “This will mean more mercury pollution from dirty plants around America will end up our air, water and food. Experts, not politicians, should be making decisions about air pollution.”

Mercury Contamination and the Dangers to Wisconsin Residents

The mercury we put into our air falls back to earth, contaminates our waters, and gets into our food supply; it’s dangerous enough that pregnant women are warned against eating tuna and other fish because of high mercury levels that could cause brain damage in their unborn babies.

Cement plants are the third largest source of manmade mercury emissions in the U.S.
• One-seventieth of one teaspoon of mercury is enough to contaminate a 20-acre lake and make the fish in it unsuitable for consumption.
• Each year, cement plants emit an estimated 16,000 lbs of mercury into the environment.
• Each year, an estimated 400,000 American newborn babies are exposed to unsafe levels of mercury.
• Enforcing the limits on toxic pollution from cement kilns would lower the amount of mercury they spew into the air by 92 percent, and save up to 2,500 lives each year.

While six Representatives from Wisconsin voted against reducing mercury emissions, the other two members of the Wisconsin delegation voted for cleaner air and safer, healthier kids: Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI-2), and Gwen Moore (D-WI-4).

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund

(Washington, D.C. – February 18, 2011)

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to use a budget bill to block clean air protections.

The vote was on an amendment to the Continuing Resolution (HR 1). The amendment, which passed Thursday night, would block all funding for enforcement of limits on mercury and other toxic pollution from cement plants. Mercury pollution causes brain damage in children.
Voting for higher levels of mercury in our air and water were Pennsylvania Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA-3), Jason Altmire (D-PA-4), Glenn Thompson (R-PA-5), Jim Gerlach (R-PA-6), Pat Meehan (R-PA-7), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA-8), Bill Shuster (R-PA-9), Tom Marino (R-PA-10), Lou Barletta (R-PA-11), Mark Critz (D-PA-12), Charlie Dent (R-PA-15), Joseph Pitts (R-PA-16), Tim Holden (D-PA-17), Timothy Murphy (R-PA-18), and Todd Platts (R-PA-19).

“These congressmen are voting for more toxic mercury in our air and water – and that puts our kids at risk,” said Steve Cochran of Environmental Defense Fund. “This will mean more mercury pollution from dirty plants around America will end up our air, water and food. Experts, not politicians, should be making decisions about air pollution.”

Mercury Contamination and the Dangers to Pennsylvania Residents

The mercury we put into our air falls back to earth, contaminates our waters, and gets into our food supply; it’s dangerous enough that pregnant women are warned against eating tuna and other fish because of high mercury levels that could cause brain damage in their unborn babies.

Cement plants are the third largest source of manmade mercury emissions in the U.S.
• Pennsylvania has 8 major cement plants, including four of the top 50highest mercury emitting plants in the nation.
• One-seventieth of one teaspoon of mercury is enough to contaminate a 20-acre lake and make the fish in it unsuitable for consumption.
• Each year, cement plants emit an estimated 16,000 lbs of mercury into the environment.
• Each year, an estimated 400,000 American newborn babies are exposed to unsafe levels of mercury.
• Enforcing the limits on toxic pollution from cement kilns would lower the amount of mercury they spew into the air by 92 percent, and save up to 2,500 lives each year.

While 15 Representatives from Pennsylvania voted against reducing mercury emissions, the other four members of the Pennsylvania delegation voted for cleaner air and safer, healthier kids: Representatives Bob Brady (D-PA-1), Chaka Fattah (D-PA-2), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA-13) and Michael Doyle (D-PA-14).

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund

(Washington, D.C. – February 18, 2011)

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to use a budget bill to block clean air protections.

The vote was on an amendment to the Continuing Resolution (HR 1). The amendment, which passed Thursday night, would block all funding for enforcement of limits on mercury and other toxic pollution from cement plants. Mercury pollution causes brain damage in children.

New Hampshire’s delegation split on the amendment. Rep. Frank Guinta (R-NH-1) voted for higher levels of mercury in our air and water. Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH-2) voted for cleaner air and safer, healthier kids.

“Some congressmen are voting for more toxic mercury in our air and water – and that puts our kids at risk,” said Steve Cochran of Environmental Defense Fund. “This will mean more mercury pollution from dirty plants around America will end up our air, water and food. Experts, not politicians, should be making decisions about air pollution.”

Mercury Contamination and the Dangers to New Hampshire Residents

The mercury we put into our air falls back to earth, contaminates our waters, and gets into our food supply; it’s dangerous enough that pregnant women are warned against eating tuna and other fish because of high mercury levels that could cause brain damage in their unborn babies.

Cement plants are the third largest source of manmade mercury emissions in the U.S. New Hampshire has no cement plants, but mercury pollution from the Midwest drifts up north to New Hampshire.

• One-seventieth of one teaspoon of mercury is enough to contaminate a 20-acre lake and make the fish in it unsuitable for consumption.
• Each year, cement plants emit an estimated 16,000 lbs of mercury into the environment.
• Each year, an estimated 400,000 American newborn babies are exposed to unsafe levels of mercury.
• Enforcing the limits on toxic pollution from cement kilns would lower the amount of mercury they spew into the air by 92 percent, and save up to 2,500 lives each year.

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund