By: Brooke Petry, Pennsylvania Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: July 10, 2025
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 Pennsylvania Field Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force. I am testifying today to strongly oppose EPA’s proposal to repeal recent updates to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. 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.
While I now live in Philadelphia with my family, I spent my childhood in New England, and 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. I have fewer chances to fish now, but I still leap at the opportunity when we visit family. Watching my child reel in her first fish was so special, and I remember that moment clearly. I also remember the moment that followed. Concern instantly replaced my excitement. Was this fish even 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 issue of justice, 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 strengthened MATS rule is critical for the health of our families and should be protected. Among the many benefits, it would 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 requires continuous emissions monitoring for coal plants. That matters because short, periodic tests can’t give us a full picture of what’s actually entering the air. To me, it’s a matter of trust and basic fairness. If Americans are expected to live alongside heavily polluting facilities, then at the very least, we deserve transparency and accurate, comprehensive data about what’s being released into the air our families are breathing. Moms Clean Air Force members strongly support the strengthened MATS rule and want to see it upheld and enforced. 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 uphold these common sense MATS standards. Again, there is NO safe level of mercury. The health of our children and our communities must be protected.