"Clear Skies" Act Harms Kids

To the Editor:

As the parent of a small child and member of a family that loves to partake in Wisconsin’s famous Friday fish fries, news of President Bush’s clean air proposal fills me with great concern. It seems that the so-called “Clear Skies” initiative would actually result in anything but. Power plant emissions of mercury, for example, could triple under the new initiative.

Mercury, a toxic metal, can cause neurological damage including attention and language deficits, memory impairments, and an inability to process and recall information. It’s time to put our nation’s health ahead of cheap energy.
Mercury released into the atmosphere is converted to methylmercury by bacteria in the water, which is easily absorbed by fish and other organisms, potentially winding up on our dinner plates. All lakes in Wisconsin already contain detectable levels of mercury.

Largely unregulated, aging coal-fired power plants have been identified as the largest industrial source of mercury pollution. The Clear Skies Act would allow industry ten more years to implement mercury emission cutbacks, and would allow some sources to pollute without any limitations at all.

My daughter’s health is priceless. Let’s spend our tax dollars on cleaner energy sources instead of supporting current, dangerously-polluting power sources.
President Bush would be wise to prove his pro-family stance by showing concern for America’s families by protecting them from toxic pollutants.

Sincerely,

Kathleen L. Nichols

Riverwest Currents - Volume 2 - Issue 7 - July 2003