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For Immediate Release
May 17, 2006
Senator White to DEP: Stop
the Dishonesty
Harrisburg – State Senator Mary Jo
White (R-Venango), chair of the Senate Environmental
Resources and Energy Committee, today condemned repeated
misrepresentations by the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) in the ongoing debate over crafting a
state-specific mercury reduction rule.
Earlier today, DEP issued a press
release announcing the Environmental Quality Board's (EQB)
approval of a state-specific mercury rule for public comment
as a proposed rulemaking. DEP's press release states – out
of context – the objections of the Pennsylvania Coal
Association (PCA) and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA)
to the federal Clean Air Mercury Rule. DEP is silent on
both organizations' repeated statements that they strongly
oppose the proposed rulemaking approved today by the EQB,
and instead prefer the federal approach to reducing mercury
emissions.
"The statements by DEP serve a sole
purpose: to intentionally misrepresent the position of PCA
and the UMWA regarding the federal Clean Air Mercury Rule,"
said White. "DEP is implying that because PCA and UMWA
expressed concern over a narrow portion of the federal
rulemaking, these organizations must therefore be supportive
of the DEP state-specific rule. This is simply dishonest on
the part of DEP."
Senator White is the prime sponsor of
Senate Bill 1201, legislation designed to reduce mercury
emissions from coal-fired power plants. Similar bipartisan
legislation (HB 2610) has been introduced in the House of
Representatives by Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana). Both bills
would employ a cap-and-trade program to achieve compliance
requirements in a cost-effective and proven manner.
In an April 27, 2006 letter to the
General Assembly, both PCA and UMWA expressed their strong
support for SB 1201 and HB 2610, and their dismay at DEP's
misrepresentation of their position on the federal mercury
rule. The UMWA further called these statements by DEP
Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty "outrageous, misleading and
offensive."
"DEP talks about public involvement
being critical to decision-making. Sadly, they continue to
utilize public deceit to arrive at their predetermined
destination: a mercury rule which imposes huge costs on
ratepayers, threatens our generating capacity and provides
no commensurate environmental or health benefit over the
reductions to be achieved under the federal mercury
reduction rule," said White. "DEP is entitled to their
position on what constitutes an appropriate mercury rule;
they are not entitled to lie about the position of other
organizations to advance their cause."
Senator White has announced her intent
to schedule a third public hearing on this issue;
information from prior hearings is available online at
www.senatormjwhite.com.
Contact:
Patrick Henderson
(717) 787-9684
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