From Anne

10/11/06

The mercury rule is over. Public health lost. Politics won. If DEQ could be trusted to force every company to truly control mercury, it would be an okay rule. But if DEQ fails to do this, as it has every other time it has been faced with requiring mercury controls at coal plants, then we will have to wait until 2018 for any real reductions in mercury control and even those requirements are not as stringent as plants can meet today. 

The board rejected a motion by Robin Shropshire to make lignite coal meet the same standards as subbituminous burning coal plants. Joe Russell and Gayle Skunkcap voted with Robin. The motion failed. 

Robin and Gayle voted against the rule. The other five board members voted in favor. 

The board acknowledged in its proposed responses to public comments that mercury from coal plants deposits locally, that mercury from coal plants methylates and methylmercury harms public health. Unfortunately, the board didn’t base a decision on those facts, but instead decided to vote based on politics. They didn’t want Schweitzer or democrats to look like they were tough on coal burning plants by voting for a strict rule on mercury. 

Call me if you have any questions. What a disappointment. 
Anne

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