Clean Water Advocates Applaud Governor's Proposal to Reduce Mercury Pollution from Illinois Power Plants

Cleaner air and water will benefit public health, communities, and the environment throughout Illinois

Champaign, Illinois, January 5, 2006:Prairie Rivers Network and other clean water and air advocates from around the state are lauding a proposal made by Governor Blagojevich today to eliminate 90% or more of mercury pollution emitted by coal-fired power plants by 2009.  The new rules will be proposed by Illinois EPA next month and could go into effect later this year.

"This is a huge victory for public health in Illinois, and the Governor should be commended for taking the lead in protecting our citizens, our communities, and our environment," said Jean Flemma, Executive Director of Prairie Rivers Network.

Mercury is a highly toxic chemical whose effects on the central nervous system are comparable to those of lead. Exposure, which usually comes from eating fish tainted with mercury, can cause severe neurological and developmental problems and is widespread. The Centers for Disease Control has estimated that 1 in 12 women of childbearing age in the U.S. have unsafe levels of mercury in their blood, and according to the US EPA, as many as 630,000children born each year could be at risk of developmental disorders because of mercury exposure in the mother's womb.

"Our 87,000 miles of rivers and streams and 309,000 acres of lakes are so polluted by mercury, we have a statewide advisory in effect warning people to limit their consumption of certain fish species caught in Illinois waters," Flemma noted. 

Fortunately, the source of our mercury pollution problem in Illinois and nationwide is easily identified—coal-fired power plants.  Illinois currently ranks fifth in the nation for mercury emitted by power plants.  Unfortunately, new rules adopted last year by the Bush Administration to regulate mercury emissions from power plants fell far short of the 90% reductions that the US EPA experts said were technologically possible and far short of the reductions needed to protect public health.  Instead, the federal rules only required Illinois power plants to reduce mercury emissions by 47% by 2010 and 79% by 2018. Under a pollution trading system that was also proposed, it was estimated that the 79% reductions would not likely be reached until 2025.

The ability to trade mercury credits is of significant concern in Illinois, as it means some plants would not have to reduce emissions at all.  Studies have shown that between 40 and 80% of mercury emitted from power plants is deposited locally, creating mercury "hot spots".  In fact, two thirds of the mercury that falls on Chicago is estimated to come from sources within the state.

In sharp contrast to the federal rules, the proposal put forth by the Governor today requires the majority of power plants in Illinois to capture 90% of their emissions of mercury pollution by 2009, with the remainder of plants required to meet that goal by 2012.  It also prohibits mercury pollution trading. 

Specifically, under the Governor's proposal---

• Coal plants in Illinois will be required to implement and install modern pollution control equipment that will reduce their mercury emissions by capturing 90% or more by June 30, 2009.   

• Companies owning multiple coal plants will be allowed to reduce their mercury emissions with a system wide average of 90% or more by June 30, 2009, provided that:  (a) No plant may achieve less than a 75%  reduction of mercury emissions by June 30, 2009; and (b) All of the plants must implement and install modern pollution control equipment that will capture 90% of their mercury emissions by December 31, 2012.

• Coal plants will be prohibited from out-of-state or in-state trading of mercury pollution credits, ensuring that dangerous mercury pollution hot spots will not be perpetuated in Illinois.

"The good news is, the State is doing what federal regulators refused to do," said Flemma.  "Instead of having some of the largest mercury emissions in the country, Illinois will now be at the forefront of reducing mercury pollution, protecting our children's health and serving as a model for other states.  We support the Governor's proposal and thank him and the Illinois EPA for their leadership."