WALSH, ALLEN INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO CREATE
NATIONAL MERCURY MONITORING NETWORK
System Would Expose Mercury 'Hotspots' and Levels in Fish and Wildlife
 
Walsh will discuss during Syracuse Center of Excellence awards announcement at
Air Innovations, Inc., 7000 Performance Drive, North Syracuse.
Monday, March 19 – 9:30 a.m. news conference / 10:00 a.m. tour coverage

(SYRACUSE, N.Y.)- Congressman Jim Walsh this week joined Congressman Tom Allen (ME-1) to introduce legislation that will establish multiple monitoring sites across the country to track mercury levels in air, water, soils, and living organisms.  The monitoring network will provide hard data on mercury deposition patterns, including dangerous mercury “hotspots” resulting from sources like dirty power plants.   

“Scientific studies, including research conducted at Syracuse University, have shown that mercury contamination from air pollution is a national environmental and human health problem,” said Walsh.  “As the U.S. works to decrease emissions of mercury to the atmosphere, the mercury monitoring network bill will enable us to track and guide the effectiveness of these control programs.”

“Despite the severity and extent of mercury contamination, scientists lack good data on where mercury is deposited and how it concentrates in living organisms,” said Allen.  “To estimate mercury levels, EPA instead uses a computer modeling system that is a proven failure.  By gathering solid, reliable data on where mercury is deposited and how it moves through ecosystems, we can shine light on dangerous mercury pollution, including mercury hotspots resulting from coal-fired power plants, and ensure that they’re cleaned up.” 

Earlier this year, Syracuse University Professor Charles Driscoll and colleagues from the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation and Clarkson University released the results of two new studies that identify five known and nine suspected biological mercury hotspots in northeastern North America and suggest that coal-fired power plants in the United States are major contributors.

The studies also presented new analysis showing that mercury deposition is five times higher near a coal plant in the vicinity of a New Hampshire hotspot than previously estimated by EPA --calling into question EPA methods and further underscoring the need for a national monitoring network.

The legislation authorizes $43.5 million dollars over the next three years for EPA to establish and operate the mercury monitoring network in consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. National Park Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  

Walsh will discuss the new bill at Monday’s Syracuse Center of Excellence announcement of $650,900 in merit-based awards to five New York State companies for projects aimed at improving air and water quality in built and urban environments.  The awards are made possible thanks to federal funding secured by Walsh. 

 
 http://www.syracusecoe.org/oic/oictadawards06.aspx

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