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Protect the Ohio River from Mercury Dumping!
Each year, the Ohio River is polluted with a higher volume of industrial waste products (including mercury and other toxics) than any other river in the United States. Now more than 800 miles of the river are considered contaminated by mercury, and mercury levels in fish tissue continue to rise.
In the face of these frightening realities, the Ohio River Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) had made plans to prohibit discharges of bio-accumulative toxics such as mercury into the river in 2013 -- but already industrial polluters like PPG Industries in West Virginia are asking for exceptions so they can continue to pollute.
Tell the Ohio River Water Sanitation Commissioners to deny the request from PPG Industries to continue discharging unsafe levels of mercury into the river.
This is the message I have sent:
To: Ohio River Sanitation Commissioners
The application by PPG Industries to extend its variance beyond 2013 presents a serious setback to the recovery of the Ohio River from toxic pollution. We ask that you oppose this proposal by PPG Industries.
The Ohio River Water Sanitation Commission made a wise decision when it voted to eliminate variances associated with the discharge of toxic chemicals, including mercury, into the Ohio River after 2013. In order to make our river safe and clean for the people and businesses that depend on it for drinking water and recreation, you must not set a precedent of allowing exceptions to the rule for industry.
ORSANCO's own studies show that mercury levels in fish tissue are rising. Additionally, the recreational use study commissioned by ORSANCO documented that over 3 million children and adults participate in recreational activities annually on the river and more than 13 million pounds of fish are eaten from the river.
Please do not support extending the discharge of mercury into the Ohio River. Not only would approval of this variance establish a bad precedent for the future, but it will have significant detrimental effect on attempts to clean up the river.
Please also note that I am an active supporter of the worldwide Occupy Movement and have been engaged in the issues of 'transparency' and 'corruption' around the world for many decades. There is too much personal and corporate evil in the world and it must not be allowed to continue. For profit pollution is an evil.
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