Georgia Experiences Sharp Increase in Toxic Mercury Emissions from Coal-fired Power Plants

ATLANTA, GA - Toxic mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in Georgia increased by approximately 980 pounds from 2003 to 2004, according to new information compiled by environmental and public health organizations from utility reports and EPA.

“This significant increase is further proof that unless the state takes serious action to regulate mercury, women, children and infants in Georgia will be increasingly vulnerable to its devastating effects, including lowered intelligence and learning disabilities. We hope the state will use this opportunity to finalize the effective mercury reductions it proposed last month and help thousands of women and children in Georgia lead healthier, mercury-free lives,” said Beth Allgood, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center.

In February, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) issued two proposals aimed at regulating the amount of mercury that can be emitted from coal-burning power plants. The first of these proposals, supported by public health groups, conservationists and the parents’ group, Mothers & Others for Clean Air, would require mercury emissions from power plants to be reduced by up to 85 percent by 2010 and by 90 percent as early as 2012. The second proposal is modeled after a weak federal plan that would result in only a 70 percent reduction by at late as 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 20,000 children, nearly 15 percent, are born in Georgia each year with blood mercury levels high enough to result in lowered intelligence, developmental delays and lowered motor skills.

Local power plants are the state’s largest emitters of mercury, a harmful neurotoxin that causes permanent damage to the central nervous system. After being emitted into the air, it deposits in local waters, where it is converted into a toxic form and ingested by fish. It then accumulates up the food chain. Eighty percent of the fish advisories in the state that warn pregnant women, children and infants against eating certain types of fish are because of mercury contamination.

“Mothers are shocked to find that eating fish can be harmful,” said Felicia Davis of Mothers & Others for Clean Air. “Although mercury contamination is a problem that affects the entire population, the burden falls most heavily upon women of childbearing age who are advised to limit fish consumption if they plan to have children. We are pleased that EPD has indicated its willingness to protect mothers and children by calling for significant reductions in mercury emissions in Georgia.”

Controlling mercury emissions from power plants is economically and technologically possible. In fact, studies in North Carolina show that controlling 90% of mercury emissions would likely result in an increase in utility bills of only 33 to 77 cents per month.

All watersheds in the state, and over 2,000 miles of rivers, are under advisories that recommend limitations on eating fish that might be contaminated with mercury.

“Many families supplement their diets with fish from Georgia streams that are contaminated with mercury, thus placing entire families at risk,” noted April Ingle, Executive Director of Georgia River Network. “It is encouraging to think that EPD may lead the south in working aggressively to reduce mercury emissions.”

A public meeting on the proposed options will be held on April 6 at 1:00 at Clayton State College and University. The EPD will accept public comments on the proposed mercury rule this spring, present the rule to the Board of Natural Resources for adoption, and upon approval, submit the final rule to EPA by late 2006 or early 2007.

Southern Environmental Law Center is a non-profit that uses the full power of the law to conserve clean water, healthy air, wild lands, and livable communities throughout the Southeast. SELC is able to work simultaneously in all three branches of government to comprehensively address the most urgent problems facing our region.

Mothers and Others for Clean Air is a unique partnership dedicated to improving air quality for all Georgians by educating the public about the health effects of air pollution and promoting individual actions and advocating policies that will improve air quality.

Georgia River Network is the only statewide environmental non-profit organization solely dedicated to the conservation of Georgia’s waters. We help people organize to protect and restore rivers and watersheds by building local group capacity and providing statewide water policy analysis.

Georgia PIRG is an advocate for the public interest. Georgia PIRG uncovers threats to public health and well-being and fights to end them. Georgia PIRG's mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented public interest activism that protects our environment, encourages a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic government.