What is a fish fog hot spot? And does this label fit Jacksonville? Read on...our sad story begins in a recent article in the Pensacola News Journal, "Emissions down, but not at coal-burning plants," which said that almost every industry in the nation has reduced mercury content except the power industry.
Why should you care?
As many as 600,000 babies may be born in the U.S. each year with irreversible brain damage because pregnant mothers ate mercury-contaminated fish, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Medical researchers are just beginning to explore the effect of mercury exposure on adults that leaves some in a disorienting "fish fog."Why should you care if you live in Jacksonville?
JEA is a major emitter of mercury in Jacksonville. And while the EPA is coming out with regulations in the next few years to lower mercury emissions nationwide, this "cap and trade" system could mean that JEA could just buy indulgences instead of actually lowering emissions. Would that mean higher rates with the same high mercury emissions? And is Jacksonville already a fish fog hot spot? According to the article...
The EPA mercury program also allows power plant operators to purchase mercury pollution credits from cleaner plants. Critics warn the trading system could let the worst polluters off the hook and foster "hot spots" with dangerously high levels of mercury.Will these EPA regulations help lower mercury emissions in Jacksonville?
James Pew, an attorney for Earthjustice, calls the EPA rule a "free pass for the polluters." It "means more mercury pollution, more waters made unsafe for fishing and more young children made susceptible to mercury contamination," he said.
