Congress has the opportunity to effectively overturn a key part of the Bush Administration's rule, forcing stricter regulation of the toxic pollutant.

Mercury is especially harmful to women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and children. Exposure to the heavy metal can cause permanent damage to a fetus and has been linked to neurological disorders in young children. The major source of this toxic pollutant is from coal burning power plants.

More than half of all Americans live within 30 miles of mercury polluting plants, but the Bush Administration made it clear whose side they're on. They worked closely with the electric utility industry to develop these rules to allow more mercury in our air over a longer period of time -- and save the industry billions of dollars.

Tell Congress to send the Bush Administration back to the drawing board!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Mercury pollution from power plants is the largest U.S. source of mercury in our environment. Mercury is especially harmful to women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and children. Mercury exposure can cause permanent damage to a fetus and has been linked to neurological disorders in young children.

In March 2005 the Bush administration issued regulations that do not do enough to control mercury emissions from power plants. One rule takes power plants off the list of sources subject to strict controls for mercury and other toxic air pollutants. Instead of real reductions in mercury emissions, the second rule then loosens regulation of this hazardous neurotoxin by allowing power plants to make fewer reductions over a greater amount of time than is required by the Clean Air Act, and encouraging trading that is likely to lead to local mercury hot spots.

Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have introduced a bipartisan joint resolution to disapprove the delisting rule and send the administration back to the drawing board to craft a rule that complies with the law and protects public health.

I urge you to protect the American public from mercury pollution by voting for the Leahy-Collins resolution.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 03, 2005