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WHEREAS, coal-fired power plants emit air toxics and heavy metals, including mercury, arsenic, lead, dioxin and acid gases; and
WHEREAS, mercury is a harmful neurotoxin that can build up in women of childbearing age, and can cause developmental disorders and learning disabilities in children and fetuses; and
WHEREAS, EPA studies show that at least 1 in 12 - and as many as 1 in 6 - American women of childbearing age have enough mercury in their bodies to put a fetus at risk; and
WHEREAS, the federal Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) has proposed new standards for mercury and air toxics, which would update provisions in the Clean Air Act and establish emission limits for coal-fired power plants in the United States; and
WHEREAS, these new protections will save as many as 17,000 lives and prevent 120,000 cases of childhood asthma; and
WHEREAS, the Sierra Club is educating people about this issue by offering free mercury testing; and
WHEREAS, Sierra Club volunteers and others will travel to Philadelphia, PA on May 24th to attend one of three public hearings on this matter being held by the EPA to submit their official support for this proposal;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and commend the Sierra Club for their ongoing advocacy for clean air and public health; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby support the EPA's proposed emission standards for mercury and other air toxics.