“Mercury Pollution Reduction Act” Introduced to the House

“Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) has just introduced HR 2065 – the Mercury Pollution Reduction Act of 2009. This bill, if passed, would eliminate mercury use at the last four mercury-based chlor-alkali facilities in the country – the Foul Four. The Foul Four have collectively emitted tons of mercury into the environment despite mercury-free technology being readily available. Already, nearly 95 percent of the chlorine production capacity in the country uses mercury-free processes. If passed, the Mercury Pollution Reduction Act of 2009 would require these facilities to eliminate mercury use in their processes within 24 months of passage.”

Oceana, “the largest international organization focused 100 percent on ocean conservation,” has set up a great website allowing individuals to send a message to their local representative to encourage them to co-sponsor this bill.

Mercury is poisining our nation’s waterways and has contaminated over half of South Carolina’s rivers and waterways.  For a map of rivers impaired by mercury pollution, click here.