Three Public Hearings Set on Pennsylvania's State-Specific Mercury Reduction Rule
Posted on: Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 09:00 CDT
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The state's Environmental Quality Board has scheduled three public hearings to listen to Pennsylvanians who are concerned about toxic mercury pollution.
A state-specific policy drafted by the Rendell administration, and under review by the independent EQB, would require mercury emission reductions at coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania, while a competing federal rule would make those controls optional.
The General Assembly currently is considering legislation that would block the state-specific plan and, instead, impose the flawed federal rule. The measures (S.B. 1201 and H.B. 2610) also would halt the public process currently underway to give Pennsylvanians the opportunity to comment on development and implementation of a state-specific plan.
"Public involvement is critical to the decision-making process, and especially so in this matter," Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. "We need a plan that protects Pennsylvanians from continued exposure to dangerous levels of toxic mercury, keeps our environment clean and enables our economy to grow. Residents have a stake in making their voice heard on the important issue."
The hearing schedule is as follows: - 1 p.m., July 25, in Conference Rooms A & B at DEP's Southwest Regional Office at 400 Waterfront Dr. in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County. - 1 p.m., Aug. 1, in the Delaware Room at DEP's Southeast Regional Office at 2 E. Main St. in Norristown, Montgomery County. - 1 p.m., Aug. 8, in Room 105 at DEP's headquarters in the Rachel Carson State Office Building at 400 Market St. in Harrisburg, Dauphin County.
Individuals who want to present testimony at a hearing should contact the EQB by calling 717-787-4526 at least one week in advance of the hearing to reserve a time. Oral testimony is limited to 10 minutes per witness. Witnesses should submit three written copies of their testimony to the chairman at the hearing. Organizations are limited to designating one witness to present testimony on their behalf at each hearing.
In addition, a 60-day public comment period will begin June 24 upon publication of the draft rule in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The public comment period runs until Aug. 23.
Mercury is a persistent, bio-accumulative neurotoxin that can remain active in the environment for more than 10,000 years. It endangers pregnant women, the unborn, children, subsistence fishermen and recreational anglers who are most at risk for health effects that include brain and nervous system damage in children and heart and immune system damage for adults.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This release is the 14th in a series to address key issues regarding Pennsylvania's state-specific mercury reduction proposal. Visit the department's Web site at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/ for releases and related articles. Click on "Mercury Reduction Plan."
CONTACT: Kurt M. Knaus
717-787-1323
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
CONTACT: Kurt M. Knaus, Pennsylvania Department of EnvironmentalProtection, +1-717-787-1323
Web site: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/
Source: PRNewswire
Related Articles
- Public Hearing on Proposed Landfill Rescheduled for July
- MISSOURI RIVER PIPELINE: Line Earns Support: Few Object to Proposal at Public Hearing
- El Reno Tax District Gets Final Public Hearing
- State Panel Today Will Weigh Plan to Reform Medicaid
- EU Member States Approves Radical Chemicals Reform Plan
- Public Hearings Next Week on Draft State Health Plan
- Senators Ask EPA for Public Hearings
- State Board to Hear Delnor Expansion Plan
- Offshore Drilling Debate Continues As MDA Plans Public Hearing
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds