By: Kiya Stanford, Georgia Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: July 10, 2025
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0794-6978
To: Environmental Protection Agency
My name is Kiya Stanford, and I am the Georgia State Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force, a national organization of over 1.6 million moms, dads, and caregivers united to protect the next generation from air pollution and the impending dangers of the climate crisis. I am writing to you today to strongly oppose EPA’s proposal to repeal recent updates to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard—there is NO safe level of mercury.
Mercury is a dangerous and deadly neurotoxin that permanently damages babies’ brains. Additional health harms linked to mercury exposure include cardiovascular problems, including increased risk of heart attacks. The recent updates to MATS also protect communities against a range of hazardous air toxins, including heavy metals that have been linked to congenital birth defects.
As someone who lives with a congenital heart disease, it is extremely important to advocate against any pollutant and policy that can contribute to replicating what me and my family went through to ensure that I grew up happy and healthy despite my medical conditions. Because of the time in which I was born, there is no clear answer to what contributed to my congenital disease, but since modern science clearly tells us the risks associated with mercury and the toxins that MATS addresses, we can do all that we can now to prevent children from the health risks associated with this exposure.
Mercury protections have had significant public health benefits, but coal plants continue to emit dangerous quantities of harmful air pollution, including asthma-inducing particle pollution. Stronger safeguards are needed to protect the health of families across the country so that we ensure safer environments for mothers and children. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, around 9% of the state’s children (aged 0-17) have asthma with many more undiagnosed. Although many people are impacted by asthma and similar respiratory issues, Black and brown communities living below the poverty line are more likely to be affected by this disease.
As a Black woman who grew up in Title 1 communities and know the lived experiences of these numbers, I cannot sit by and be silent while efforts are made to upend protections that could change these outcomes. With rates like this in a state that only houses a few of these facilities, I can only imagine the rates in states like Pennsylvania and Indiana and the effects respiratory illnesses caused by exposure have on those children and their families. EPA’s recent strengthening of MATS is critical for the public health outcomes of all communities, but especially marginalized ones, throughout the U.S.
It is imperative that the strides made to strengthen MATS in April 2024 remain intact for the health outcomes of children and families throughout the country. Once again, I oppose efforts to weaken or revoke the recent updates to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard. Thank you for your time.