Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - December 18, 2009)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. Carper):

S. 2913. A bill to establish a national mercury monitoring program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, today, along with my colleague from Delaware, Senator Carper, I am introducing the Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act. This bill will ensure the Environmental Protection Agency has accurate information about the extent of mercury pollution in our nation as it works to enforce regulations about this toxic chemical.

Mercury is a dangerous substance that can cause serious neuron-developmental harm, especially to children and pregnant women. Scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, estimate that some 630,000 infants are born each year with blood mercury levels higher than what is considered safe.

Mercury is hazardous not only to people, but also to wildlife. As of 2006, States issued 533 new fish advisories bringing the nationwide total advisories to 3,851. These advisories cover 38 percent of the Nation's total lake acreage and 26 percent of the Nation's total river miles. Almost 65 percent of the U.S. coastline, except Alaska, is under advisory, including 92 percent of the Atlantic coast and 100 percent of the Gulf coast.

Each new scientific study seems to find higher levels of mercury in more ecosystems and in more species than we had previously thought. We must have more comprehensive information and we must have it soon; otherwise, we risk making misguided policy decisions.

For example, in 2005 the Environmental Protection Agency issued a new mercury regulation based on computer measurements that were not peer-reviewed and that were not verified with actual measurements. The effect of the regulation was to allow power plants to continue spewing unlimited amounts of mercury into our air until the year 2018. Many experts, including the EPA Inspector General, sharply criticized the science underlying that new regulation and recommended that EPA develop and implement a mercury monitoring plan. That was a major reason why I am introducing the Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act.

Specifically, my mercury bill would establish mercury monitoring sites across the nation in order to measure mercury levels in the air, rain, soil, lakes and streams, as well as in plants and animals; authorize about $30 million annually for fiscal years 2011 through 2013 for the Environmental Protection Agency, United States Geological Survey, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Park Service to perform scientific mercury measurements; and create a ``Mercury Monitoring Advisory Committee'' to advise the Administrator of the EPA in choosing the monitoring sites.

We must establish a more robust national mercury monitoring network to provide EPA the data it needs to make decisions that protect the people and environment of Maine and the entire Nation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

S. 2913

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source