CONTACT: Sasha Tenenbaum
Senior Manager, Media and Public Engagement
[email protected]
(917) 887- 0146
WHAT: Dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff, organizers, and members will testify before EPA in support of the agency’s proposed Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS). These standards will cut pollution from coal-fired power plants that spew mercury, arsenic, lead, chromium, and other toxins into the air our families breathe. Airborne mercury falls into waterways and accumulates in the fish we eat, which can lead to cardiovascular problems in people of all ages and harm the developing brains of babies and children. Moms are calling on EPA to protect our families by finalizing the strongest possible MATS by the end of the year.
WHO: Moms from the following states will provide testimony: AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, IL, MD, MI, MT, NC, NM, NY, NV, OH, PA, VA, VT, and Washington, DC. The following impacted residents will be available for interview:
- Dominique Browning, Moms Clean Air Force Director and Co-Founder. Under the leadership of Dominique, Moms Clean Air Force has been fighting for the strongest possible mercury protections since the organization was founded 12 years ago. Dominique can speak to the impact of these protections over the past decade.
- Erandi Treviño, Texas State Coordinator. Erandi lives in Southeast Houston, TX, a region that is heavily impacted by industrial pollution. MATS would address emissions from the burning of lignite coal, an especially polluting form of coal found primarily in North Dakota and Erandi’s home-state of Texas.
- Vanessa Lynch, Pennsylvania State Coordinator. Two of the biggest mercury polluting coal fired power plants are located in her home-state – the Keystone and Conamaugh electric generating stations. Vanessa lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and two children.
WHEN: The hearing will take place Tuesday, May 9. Please inquire for speaking order information.
WHERE: EPA will hear testimony over Zoom. Fill out the survey here to register for the hearing.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Statement: Moms celebrate EPA announcement on strengthening of mercury and air toxics (MATS) protections (2023)
- Fact Sheet: Mercury 101 (2022)
- Keeping Mercury Out of Babies’ Brains
- Map of worst-polluting coal plants (EDF, 2022)
- Overview: The Health Benefits of Mercury Standards are Much Larger Than Estimated (2019)
- Illustrative Fact Sheet: How Mercury Poisoning Works (2018) ; Click here to view in Spanish (”Cómo Actúa el Envenenamiento por Mercurio”)