Last Chance to Influence the 
Mercury Rule  for Coal-fired Power Plants

Call the Governor and tell him to protect  public health from mercury pollution – 
NO EXCEPTIONS!  



On Oct. 11th the Board of Environmental Review will finalize a  rule  that gives  coal-fired power plants a free  pass for mercury pollution in Montana. Unfortunately,  every time we turn around ,  the  Department of Environmental Quality proposes  weaker and weaker mercury standards  -- at a time when more and more coal plants are  in the works.
 

Gov. Schweitzer announced  this week that the proposed coal plant near Roundup “...will remove virtually  all mercury.” That sounds great until you consider the fact that  he is  supporting a weak mercury rule for coal-fired power  plants  to keep pollution control costs low for the dirtiest plants.  The  coal  companies can do better than the Governor is asking them to do. The  Roundup Plant is proof that we have the ability to control mercury NOW.   The Governor needs to  hear that  we need a rule that  protects   all Montanans   living downwind of coal plants , not  just the Roundup Plant. 

The mercury rule drafted  by the Schweitzer Administration: 
 

. Allows  companies to rely on the federal cap-and-trade program in which they can buy  their way out of complying with strict emission limits   or  profit by selling mercury emission credits elsewhere (Schweitzer publicly ridiculed this program  just one year ago);  

. Requires  minimal  mercury  control before 2018 (about 26% control for the proposed coal plant in Great  Falls); and  

. Sets  standards for lignite burning coal plants  that  are even weaker than the standards supported by industry.  Despite the fact that Montana has an abundance of the cleaner subbituminous  coals, the rule gives a sweetheart deal to the dirtiest type of coal  in the  state , thereby encouraging companies to use dirtier  lignite than cleaner subbituminous coals.


Call the  Governor TODAY and tell him to support a strong mercury rule, not the  sham proposal drafted by the Department of Environmental Quality that sets  exception after exception to the standard. 

Public health and the environment should be  protected from the hazards of mercury – no  exceptions! 
Governor’s Office 444-3111



Anne Hedges
Program  Director
Montana Environmental Information Center
P.O. Box  1184
Helena, MT 59624
(406) 443-2520
fax: (406)  443-2507
ahedges@meic.org
http://www.meic.org