By: Liz Hurtado, National Field Manager, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: May 9, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0794
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Good afternoon. My name is Liz Hurtado, and I am a national field manager for Moms Clean Air Force and its Latino engagement program, EcoMadres. I am a mother of four living in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
As a mother, I made a commitment to always keep my children safe, which is why I am here today to voice my support of EPA’s proposal to strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. No amount of mercury contamination is safe. We must keep mercury and other toxics from spewing out of coal-fired power plants and ending up in our air, water, soil, and the food we eat.
Studies have shown that our freshwater lakes, streams, and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed contain fish that may be unsafe to eat because of their high levels of mercury contamination. Coal-fired power plants and trash incinerators are the largest sources of this pollutant in the region. Mercury can travel great distances before getting deposited into waterways through rainfall or as a gas. Despite years of declining mercury emissions, this toxic pollutant remains prevalent in our waters and stronger standards are greatly needed.
Mercury is especially harmful to babies and children. With each pregnancy, my doctor reminded me to stay away from eating large fish due to the risks that mercury exposure can have on infants, including brain damage. It can affect children’s ability to walk, talk, read, and learn. Mercury contamination is avoidable, and we must do what is right by our children to reduce these emissions from power plants that will help prevent countless premature deaths, heart attacks, asthma attacks, and hospital and emergency room visits.
Strong mercury standards are also critical to advance environmental justice in the communities most impacted by pollution from coal plants. Latino communities face a disproportionate risk from toxic mercury pollution because of a combination of cultural, economic and linguistic factors. Nearly two in five Latinos live within 30 miles of a power plant. Over a million Latinos nationwide actively participate in fishing as a recreational, social, or family activity. However, much of the Latino community is unaware that invisible toxic chemicals, such as mercury, might be present in the water that they fish in or in the fish that they eat. The lack of bilingual mercury advisories is a major factor in the communities’ awareness of contamination. We must hold coal plants accountable for their pollution, especially in communities that bear the heaviest burden of air pollution.
We cannot continue to sacrifice public health. Protecting public health means keeping everyone's air clean and safe to breathe. I once again urge the EPA to move swiftly to finalize the proposed Mercury and Air Toxics Standards as soon as possible.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.