By: Vanessa Lynch, 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 Vanessa Lynch. I am a State Coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force, and I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Living in a state with a history of coal extraction and numerous coal-fired power plants, I support the EPA’s proposal to strengthen protections against mercury and other forms of air pollution coming from coal-fired power plants.
With two of the biggest mercury polluting coal-fired power plants located in my state—the Keystone and Conamaugh electric generating stations—the requirement for continuous emissions monitoring for coal plants rather than periodic emissions tests along with the proposed reductions in other health-harming air pollutants will be a breath of fresh air for local families.
The reinstatement last year of the appropriate and necessary finding of the MATS was greatly appreciated by communities like mine. But today’s further acknowledgment and tightening of mercury from lignite-fired power sources and other toxic metal emissions represents real progress. With 86% of women in the country having had at least one child by the end of their childrearing years, the health needs of pregnant women, the caretakers of our future generations, shouldn’t be relegated to a do not eat list. And to be clear, there is no safe level of mercury consumption.
Mercury is especially dangerous for developing babies and children. After ingestion, mercury can cross the blood-brain and placental barriers, leading to toxic effects on fetal and infant brains. When pregnant women eat contaminated fish, mercury can cause long-term losses in IQ scores, impaired motor function, learning impairments, and behavioral problems in their children. Moms spend so much of our time and energy trying to protect our children, it is frustrating to know simply what you eat can jeopardize your child’s health.
Added to the impacts of mercury are the health impacts of the toxic heavy metals associated with coal fired power plants such as lead, arsenic and chromium which are known to increase the risk of fatal heart attacks, cancer and developmental delays in children.
The good news is we know mercury safeguards significantly decrease mercury pollution with huge health benefits and low costs. Placing women’s health and the health of their babies at the forefront of decision-making on mercury and other health-harming air toxics just makes sense.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify today. I support the proposal to finalize the strongest MATS standards as soon as possible—our children’s health must be protected.