Editor’s Note: This op-ed appeared on PennLive at https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/03/dont-roll-back-the-mercury-standard-opinion.html and later in a print edition of the Patriot News.
As a young child, I recall one of my siblings breaking an old style thermometer, and my sense of wonder as I saw the silvery material from inside rolling around the floor, almost impossible to pick up. However, as I grew older I remember hearing the news reports of Japanese citizens poisoned by mercury in fish—fish contaminated by mercury dumped in Minamata Bay in the 1950s and ‘60s—and I learned that the intriguing roly-poly substance was not so innocent.
Over the ensuing years, I heard more and more about the dangers of mercury, and its pervasiveness in our environment—particularly in the air with mercury vapors emitted from coal-fired power plants. We can’t see it, but like the dissolved mercury in fish, this airborne mercury enters our bodies unbeknownst to us and results in neurological and nervous system problems like birth defects and developmental issues. Unlike some contaminants, mercury accumulates in our systems and there is no simple or easy way to remove it. Excessive amounts can overwhelm the kidneys and liver, making it hard for them to do their usual job of filtering out contaminants.
Over the last few years, we’ve made great strides in reducing mercury in our environment, thanks to the federal mercury standard implemented in 2011. The Moms Clean Air Force has shared data showing that Pennsylvania’s mercury pollution has declined by 90% as coal-fired power plants implemented controls directed by the standard, with an estimated $4.4 billion in health benefits—and compliance cost the industry significantly less than originally estimated. While we still have a great deal of work to address mercury pollution in our streams, many of which have fish advisories due to high levels of mercury—continuing declines in releases to the environment should change that over time.
So why is the current administration trying to roll back the mercury standard? Good question. And why, as people of faith, do we ask?
As Christians, we recall the words of Jesus from the gospel of John: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Having abundant life means having access to safe, clean air, water and land, and ensuring the same for all of creation—so that we may live long, healthy lives. Many of us seek to live by a standard that we should love our neighbors, and treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves. This means that we try to walk the path of love, compassion, and healing that Jesus walked.
But back to our initial question—given the rapid rate of success in reducing a material that is so blatantly harmful to living creatures at a lower cost than expected, when very few were asking for rollbacks, why is this happening now? It probably has to do with attempts to shore up the coal industry—a campaign promise in 2016—which still has a fairly strong foothold in Pennsylvania. However, Pennsylvania’s coal plants have already made significant reductions in mercury emissions, and we are beginning to move to cleaner sources of energy. Will rollbacks drive the remaining coal plants to return to their polluting ways? The answer appears to be no, given that the power sector has made clear its opposition to rollbacks in a July 2018 letter to the EPA. They said, “Given…investment ($18 billion) and…emissions reductions (90%), regulatory and business certainty regarding regulation…is critical.”
However, a return to increased mercury in the environment—should it happen—would mean a reversal of the positive gains made since 2011. Many of the costs have already been borne by the industry, so there is little perceived benefit there. But there will be costs—we’ll see setbacks in health outcomes, which means loss of “abundant life” and a rise in health care costs to address health conditions created or worsened by mercury. We’ll see continued—probably heightened—fish advisories for mercury contaminated waters, which affects Pennsylvania’s recreational industries and opportunities, also affecting abundant life for residents and visitors to the Commonwealth.
So, in other words, rolling back the mercury standard is unwanted, unnecessary, and makes no sense. We’ve been on a better path for quite some time—starting when we began to understand the problem decades ago. It’s up to us to call for continuing on that path and preventing rollbacks by making our voices heard.
The Rev. Sandra Strauss is director of Advocacy & Ecumenical Outreach for the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. She holds a M.Div. from Lancaster Theological Seminary, a M.A. in Public Policy from Duke University, and is ordained as Minister of Word and Sacrament with the Presbyterian Church.
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