Once again Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan put the interests of polluters ahead of public health by voting against a bipartisan effort to get mercury pollution reductions from power plants.
Mercury pollution from coal power plants is a serious threat which especially affects pregnant women, young children and the unborn. In March, the Environmental Protection Agency produced a plan that circumvents the provisions and intent of the Clean Air Act and delays reduction of this form of pollution for a decade or more.
The North Dakota senators had an opportunity to take a stand against this weak program to limit the proliferation of mercury pollution and came up short. In a close vote, they chose the welfare of corporate exploiters and polluters over people and fetuses.
Ron Saeger
Fargo
