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FYI:
There is a very serious move afoot in the North-eastern States and
Provinces to dramatically curb acid rain and airborne mercury pollution.
There appears to be some solid political momentum, driven by some very
committed groups in the US and Canada. These groups are looking for as many
citizens & NGOs as possible to get involved, especially those with an
interest in Acid Rain and Mercury emissions in Eastern Canada. Broad based
support is urgently needed to push this important bilateral treaty through
- there is still considerable foot-dragging. They would welcome attendance
at an upcoming meeting and NGO groups to sign on to a joint letter of
action to the New England Governors and Premiers. Details and a draft
letter are attached below.
Any takers?
Please respond to:
Adel Hurley - ahurley@istar.ca
And
Michael Bender - MTBenderVT@aol.com
Ray
*__________________________________________________
Raymond J. Plourde ______________________ )
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia /
Canada /
/
rplourde@istar.ca /
O/)
F'
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^^^^
NSSA
<XXX><
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MERCURY STRATEGY MEETING FOR US AND CANADIAN MERCURY ACTIVISTS
JUNE 7 & 8, 1998
Lord Beaverbrook Hotel
FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA
The Conservation Council of New Brunswick, Mercury Policy Project,
California Communities Against Toxics, Clean Air Network, Natural
Resources Council of Maine, and New England Clean Water Action are
organizing a Mercury Strategy Meeting for mercury activists from New
England and Eastern Canadian provinces on June 7 and June 8 in
Fredericton. The purpose of the Mercury Strategy Meeting is to share
information and develop a Strategy for action on mercury.
The Strategy Meeting will coincide with the Twenty-third Conference of
the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers during which
the Premiers and Governors will sign a Mercury Action Plan and an Acid
Rain Action Plan on the morning of June 8. Environmental and public
health advocates and Native Nations from New England and Canada have
been pushing governments to sign an Action Plan with a 10 year goal of
virtual elimination of mercury emissions and an interim 5 year target
of 50% reduction in mercury emissions; and a 75% reduction in sulfur
dioxide emissions and a 60% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions
beyond current commitments.
DRAFT AGENDA
Sunday June 7
5:00-7:00 Introductions and regional updates on hot spots
8:00 Social gathering (to be determined)
Monday June 8
8:00 Breakfast
8:30-10:30 Panel discussion: Updates on sources and science of
mercury
in the environment, health impacts, common sources of mercury and acid
rain and their combined effects on ecosystems, and legal and policy
developments across the region. 10:30-10:45 Break 10:45-12:00
Plan and
NGO Strategy for Action and assess the Governors' and Premiers' Action
Plan 12:00-1:00 Lunch 1:00-3:00 Continue with NGO Strategy including
elements of a public campaign 3:00 Departure
To register for the Mercury Strategy Meeting call Juli Abouchar,
Conservation Council of New Brunswick (506) 458-8747 or Michael
Bender, Mercury Policy Project (802) 223-8000. Travel and
accommodation assistance is available.
To reserve a room at the Lord Beaverbrook Hotel call 1-800-561-7666 by
May 31, 1998. Quote Conservation Council or Mercury Coalition. Single
room rate $70 (Cdn), double room $77 (Cdn).
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Draft Letter to Governors and Premiers on Mercury and Acid Rain Action
Plans
Dear New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers:
Re: Protect our communities and ecosystems from mercury contamination and
acid
rain!
Acid rain and mercury pollution have become the sentinel environmental
issues
of
this century in the Northeast Americas. EPA's Mercury Study Report to
Congress, the NESCAUM Mercury Report, and the recently released report by
the
Canadian Acidifying Emissions Task Force reveal the frightening
consequences
of
over 100 years of mercury and acid rain pollution: contaminated
ecosystems,
poisoned fish, and 1.6 million women and children at risk from mercury
poisoning
in the U.S. The time is long overdue for us to take substantive steps to
eliminate acid rain and mercury emissions and to protect our communities
from
existing pollution.
You have an important window of opportunity to make significant progress
toward
the virtual elimination of mercury from the Northeastern Americans and to
dramatically curb acid rain. There is no better time than now to be
leaders
on
both of these issues by committing to virtual elimination of mercury
(reducing
man-made emissions and the use of mercury-containing products) and by
setting
aggressive reduction targets for acid-forming gases, specifically sulfur
dioxide
and nitrogen oxides.
Our region needs to take meaningful steps to go after both pollutants for
several reasons. Mercury transforms into the toxic methylmercury more
readily
in acidified lakes, thereby increasing the uptake of methylmercury by fish
inhabiting those lakes. Second, coal-burning sources (power plants and
industrial and commercial boilers) emit both of these pollutants.
Coal fired power plants are a large source of acid-forming pollutants and
mercury, and they have been granted special exemptions allowing them to
operate
under outdated pollution standards. Requiring the fleet of old coal and
oil
fired power plants in New England to meet the same emissions standards
applied
to new plants would reduce acid-forming emissions by 75 percent. In
addition
to
leveling the playing field between old and new power plants, we urge you to
level the playing field between all mercury emissions sources and
coal-burning
facilities. If you are genuinely committed to the virtual elimination of
mercury emissions, we urge you to adopt meaningful reduction targets for
coal-fired power plants and industrial boilers.
The threat of continued mercury and acid gas releases into our environment
demands that we take very real steps on this issue. The health of our
children
demands nothing less than a virtual elimination strategy for mercury and
large
reductions of acid gases, with real goals and a real commitment to reach
those
goals.
Sincerely,
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