Toxic Power Plants Are Polluting Our Waterways

Help WaterKeeper Alliance spread the word:

        After more than 30 years of delay, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must finalize the first-ever limits on toxic water pollution from coal-fired power plants in time to meet a court-ordered deadline this September. Two years ago, the agency proposed a wide array of regulatory options, which range from impermissibly-weak to highly-protective of public health. 

        Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of toxic water pollution in America. Collectively, these Industrial-Age relics dump billions of pounds of pollution directly into rivers, lakes, and other waterways each year, more than the next nine most polluting industries combined. In spite of this, there are no uniform national limits on the amount of toxic pollutants like arsenic, lead, and mercury that dirty power plants may release into public waters.

        Toxic water pollution from coal-fired power plants threatens the public's right to safely recreate and fish on waterways, and has real impacts on public health. The vast majority of power plants discharge within five miles of a drinking water source, already contaminating close to 400 sources. This increases the risk and cost to make water safe for families, schools, businesses and communities. Considering the massive impact that discharges from power plants have on the health of our waterways and the public, it is incredible that there are no federal limitations on the level of toxins that can be released. Our waterways and communities should be protected from the tons of heavy metals that are released by coal-fired power plants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Take action here: http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50474/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=16181