U.S. Conference Of Mayors Unanimously Supports EPA MACT Rule
WASHINGTON, June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire
At its annual meeting last week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors
unanimously passed a resolution supporting the EPA's Mercury and Air
Toxics (MACT) Standards Rule, demonstrating widespread support of the
Agency's effort (resolution at usmayors.org). Today, president,
Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter urged the U.S. Senate to reject
efforts to block the implementation of this important public health rule
through the seldom used Congressional Review Act.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110125/MM36443LOGO)
The rules call for national emission standards limiting mercury,
arsenic, chromium, acid gases and other toxic airborne contaminants
discharged from coal- and oil-fired power plants. While other major
sources of mercury have long face emissions controls, until now there
have been no such national emissions limits for power plants which are
the single largest source of mercury pollution. Congress first called
for these rules in 1990.
"Twenty-two years of stalling and delay is too long for our
communities to wait for fundamental rights such as healthy air and
water," said Mayor Nutter, the USCM's new president. "The tragedy is
that this toxic pollution is avoidable. The new limits are entirely
reasonable and long overdue."
The Center for Disease Control estimates that as many as one in six
women of child bearing age have enough mercury in their blood stream to
harm a developing baby. Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that imperils
the brain development of infants and young children, affecting their
ability to walk, talk, read, write and learn. Each year over 400,000
infants are born with mercury contamination exceeding safe levels.
Because they are so densely populated, cities are particularly
vulnerable to the health impacts of hazardous air pollution. Once fully
implemented, EPA expects that the rules will prevent up to 11,000 deaths
annually. Additionally, the health protections of these rules, including
the prevention of heart and asthma attacks, will save the average
American $3-$9 in health costs for every dollar spent to reduce toxic
pollution.
"Mayors understand the real day-to-day needs of protecting the health
of our citizens," said Mayor Nutter, "and we strongly support the work
of Administrator Jackson and the EPA in this regard. We encourage the
U.S. Senate to do the same."
The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan
organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are
1,210 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in
the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on
Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at
twitter.com/usmayors.
(full text of EPA letter below)
Lisa JacksonAdministratorEnvironmental Protection AgencyAriel Rios
Building1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.Washington, DC 20460
Dear Administrator Jackson,
As local elected officials representing big cities and small towns,
we want to express our strong support for the Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) recently issued Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for
Power Plants (MATS). Mayors are on the front lines of protecting public
health and this long overdue safeguard will reap tremendous benefits for
our communities.
Mercury pollution, much of it coming from coal-fired power plants,
represents a particularly widespread threat to families nationwide.
According to your agency's own analysis, as of 2010, all 50 states have
fish consumption advisories in place to warn residents of the potential
health effects of eating fish caught from local waters. Of these
advisories, 81% were issued in part because of mercury pollution
accumulated within the aquatic food chain.
A dangerous neurotoxin, mercury poses a particular threat to pregnant
women and small children. Exposure affects a developing child's ability
to walk, talk, read, write and learn. The Center for Disease Control,
along with your agency, estimate that as many as 1 in 6 women of
childbearing age have high enough mercury levels in their blood to harm
a developing fetus. Additionally, these rules will reduce exposure to a
host of other health-threatening toxics, including arsenic, cyanide,
chromium and acid gases.
EPA's own regulatory impact review of the rules predicts it will save
citizens as much as $90 billion annually when fully implemented through
lower health care costs. Each year, this translates into as many as
11,000 lives saved, 4,700 heart attacks and 130,000 asthma attacks
prevented, and 5,700 hospital visits avoided.
Clean, healthy air and water are fundamental American rights and we
are eager to work with your agency to ensure these historic protections
are quickly implemented.
Respectfully,
Albany, NY - Gerald JenningsAlexandria, VA - Bill EuilleAnn Arbor, MI
- John HieftjeAtlanta, GA - Kasim ReedAustin, MN - Thomas Stiehm Austin,
TX - Lee Leffingwell Berea, KY - Steven Connelly Bethlehem Township, NJ
- John GraefeBeverly, MA - Bill Scanlon Biscayne Park, FL - Noah
JacobsBloomington, IN - Mark Kruzan Boston, MA - Thomas
MeninoBurlington, VT - Bob KissCharlottesville, VA - Satyendra
HujaChicago, IL - Rahm Emanuel Cincinnati, OH - Mark MalloryCohoes, NY -
John T. McDonald, IIICollege Park, MD - Andrew FellowsColumbus, OH -
Michael B. Coleman Cutler Bay, FL - Ed MacDougallDearborn Heights, MI -
Daniel S. PaletkoDecatur, GA - Bill FloydDenver, CO - Michael B. Hancock
Duluth, MN - Don NessDurham, NC - William V. "Bill" Bell Eden Prairie,
MN - Nancy Tyra-LukensEugene, OR - Kitty PiercyFalcon Heights, MN -
Peter LindstromFayetteville, AR - Lioneld JordanFlorence, SC - Stephen
J. WukelaFrankfort, KY - Gippy H.GrahamGlendale, CA - Laura
FriedmanHallandale Beach, FL - Joy CooperHampton, VA - Molly
WardHartford, CT - Pedro C. SegarraHenderson, NV - Andy Hafen, Houston,
TX - Annise ParkerJackson, MS - Harvey Johnson, Jr.Jordan, MN - Pete
EwalsLa Mesa, CA - Art MadridLambertville, NJ- David DelVecchio, Las
Vegas, NV - Carolyn GoodmanLong Beach, NY - Jack SchnirmanLos Angeles,
CA - Antonio VillaraigosaMacon, GA - Robert ReichertMadison, WI - Paul
SoglinManhattan Beach, CA - Richard P. Montgomery Maplewood, MN - Will
RossbachMaui County, HI - Alan M. ArakawaMayfield Village, OH - Bruce G.
RinkerMemphis, TN - A C Wharton, Jr. Minneapolis, MN - R.T.
RybakMissoula, MT - John EngenMontgomery, AL - Todd Strange New York, NY
- Michael R. BloombergOak Park Heights, MN - David BeaudetOsakis, MN -
Keith EmersonPeekskill, NY - Mary F. FosterPembroke Pines, FL - Frank C.
OrtisPhiladelphia, PA - Michael NutterPhoenix, AZ - Greg
StantonPinecrest, FL - Cindy LernerPittsburgh, PA - Luke
RavenstahlPittsfield Charter Township, MI - Mandy GrewalPleasanton, CA -
Jennifer Hosterman Poquoson, VA - Eugene W. Hunt, Jr.Portland, ME -
Michael F. BrennanPortland, OR - Sam AdamsProvidence, RI - Angel
TaverasRedmond, WA - John MarchioneSacramento, CA - Kevin JohnsonSaint
Paul, MN - Christopher B. ColemanSan Antonio, TX - Julian CastroSanta
Fe, NM - David CossSanta Monica, CA - Richard Bloom Sauk Rapids, MN -
Dave SaundersSavannah, GA - Edna JacksonSeattle, WA - Michael
McGinnShepherdstown, WV - Arthur III AuxerSisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe
of the Lake Traverse Reservation, SD - Robert ShepherdSouth Miami, FL -
Philip K Stoddard, PhDTakoma Park, MD - Bruce R. WilliamsUrbana, IL -
Laurel PrussingWarren, MI - James FoutsWashington, DC - Vincent C.
GrayWestland, MI - William R. WildWhite Plains, NY - Thomas
M.RoachWilmington, DE - James M. BakerWilmore, KY - Harold Rainwater
Yonkers, NY - Mike SpanoYpsilanti, MI - Paul Schreibe
SOURCE The U.S. Conference of Mayors
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