By: Brooke Petry, Pennsylvania State Coordinator, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: May 9, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0794
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Brooke Petry, and I am a State Coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force Pennsylvania. I live in Philadelphia with my family. I strongly support EPA’s proposal to strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards and ask that EPA finalize these standards as quickly as possible.
Mercury from coal-fired power plants threatens the health of our communities when it is released into the air–falling into waterways and accumulating in the fish that families eat. This is cause for serious alarm because there is no safe level of mercury consumption. Mercury can cause permanent damage to the brains of babies and fetuses, leading to developmental delays, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and birth defects.
Fishing was a huge part of my childhood. My father was, and still is, an avid fisherman. I spent summers walking my two younger sisters to our local reservoir to fish for sunnies or trying to catch trout to eat at a nearby lake. While I live in the city now and have few chances to fish, I still leap at the opportunity when we visit family. Watching my child reel in their first fish was such a special moment. I remember that moment clearly, but I also remember the moment that followed. Concern instantly replaced my excitement. Is this fish safe to eat? What a shame that even milestone childhood moments must be marred with concern over toxic pollutants in our water, in our air, and even in our food.
While my story is about fishing for fun—not out of necessity, many communities rely on fishing as a primary food source, for cultural identity, or for economic reasons. Addressing this toxic pollution is an environmental justice issue, as we know that the toll of pollution exposure is unevenly distributed, with communities of color and low wealth communities bearing the heaviest burden.
EPA’s proposal to strengthen MATS is critical for the health of our families. Among the many benefits, it will reduce emissions from other health-harming air pollutants, including fine particle pollution (also known as soot), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide. And importantly, it will require continuous emissions monitoring for coal plants, which means that facilities will be required to track their pollution at all times. This matters because short, periodic emissions tests don’t necessarily reflect the pollution actually going into the air most of the time.
Moms Clean Air Force strongly supports strengthening MATS. We must keep mercury and other toxics from spewing out of coal-fired power plants and tainting our most basic needs as humans—our air, water, soil, and food.
Please finalize the strongest MATS standards as soon as possible. Our children’s health must be protected.