FYI, there were good LTEs on mercury, or mentioning the environmental record of a congressional candidate in today's Des Moines Register. Lyle Letters to the Editor By REGISTER READERS October 14, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mercury-pollution rules should be reconsidered Regarding the Oct. 8 article, "EPA Defends Mercury Position": Michael Leavitt, Environmental Protection Agency administrator and a former Utah governor, asserts the EPA is working to reduce poisonous mercury in the environment, but Americans have seen only political rhetoric coming from the Bush administration. During the 1990s, the government regulated mercury pollution from medical- and municipal-waste incinerators, leaving power plants unregulated. In 2000, the EPA determined mercury to be a hazardous substance under the Clean Air Act and said it should be strictly controlled. EPA scientists estimated this enforcement would mean a 90 percent reduction in power-plant mercury emissions by 2008. Under industry's heavy hand, the Bush administration has reversed course and proposed a "cap-and-trade" system for mercury that would lead to a 70 percent reduction by 2018, although other estimates suggest the reduction will be smaller and take longer. A cap on mercury is inadequate because mercury is heavy and precipitates to the ground near the source. As a result, coal-fired plants in states like Iowa (16th in the nation for mercury emissions) create "hot spots" where the risks of mercury poisoning are severe. Under a cap-and-trade system, these plants are likely to buy pollution credits and "trade" rather than "cap" mercury emissions. If Leavitt and Bush take their jobs to protect America seriously, they will choose science over politics and rethink their proposed mercury regulations. Better that the EPA eat humble pie than Americans eat mercury-tainted fish for decades to come. -Laura Zahn, Iowa PIRG, Des Moines. *********** Johnson has solid record on environment Paul Johnson is running against incumbent Congressman Tom Latham. Johnson has a distinguished record of public service and accomplishment, including three terms as state legislator when he helped pass the Groundwater Protection Act, chief of the Soil Conservation Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. We are fortunate that a man of his commitment and experience has offered to work for us in Washington. I am impressed by his strong support of the things that really matter. Above all, he cares for the environment. He understands that our health and prosperity as human beings are closely connected to the health of the natural world, and he has made it a big part of his life's work to protect and enhance it. A family farmer himself, he will help farmers thrive as a vital element in the continued health of Iowa's economy. He promotes responsible stewardship of private lands, so they will be protected from overuse in similar ways that public lands have been protected. In contrast, his opponent supports policies of the current administration that are rapidly eroding a body of conservation law that has taken over 100 years to build. Vast areas of land previously protected are now open to exploitation and degradation. -Mary Lewis, Decorah. *** Congressman Tom Latham has followed a Republican-dominated agenda that has failed to meet the needs of most people. Paul Johnson will work for goals that will benefit all: an efficient universal health-care system with private doctors and clinics as at present, but with a single-payer Medicare-like system for payment; environmental protection, whose good health is essential to human life; conservation of energy and development of renewable sources for new energy; support for teachers and students, but without dependence on rigid federal mandates and renewal of world respect for America. -David E. Metzler, Ames. ___________________________________________________ Lyle Krewson 6403 Aurora Avenue #3 Des Moines, IA 50322-2862 [log in to unmask] 515/276-8947 - Ofc/Res 515/238-7113 - Cel ___________________________________________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Make your voice heard! Find out how to get Take Action Alerts and other important Sierra Club messages by email at: http://www.sierraclub.org/email