http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/troubled-waters-an-analysis-of-clean-water-act-compliance When drafting the Clean Water Act in 1972, legislators set the goals of making all U.S. waterways fishable and swimmable by 1983 and eliminating the discharge of pollutants into the nation’s waterways by 1985. More than 30 years later, we are far from realizing the Clean Water Act’s original vision. http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/troubled-waters-an-analysis-of-clean-water-act-compliance Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:48:48 -0600 http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/plagued-by-pollution-unsafe-levels-of-soot-pollution-in-2004 While air quality has improved in the U.S. since the inception of the Clean Air Act in 1970, more than 88 million Americans still live in areas with unsafe levels of fine particle pollution. Fine particle pollution is one of the nation’s most pervasive air pollutants and its most deadly, causing tens of thousands of premature deaths every year. This report examines levels of fine particle pollution in cities and towns nationwide in 2004 and finds that fine particles continue to pose a grave health threat to Americans.Fine particle, or “soot,” pollution can cause serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer, and premature death. Moreover, recent scientific studies show that such adverse effects occur at levels below the current national health-based air quality standards, which include an annual standard of 15 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) and a daily standard of 65 µg/m3. Combustion sources such as coal-fired power plants and diesel engines are the largest source of fine particle pollution.This report is based on a compilation of 2004 data from the nation’s network of fine particle air quality monitors, as detailed by the state environmental agencies we surveyed. Key findings include the following:• In 2004, fine particle pollution exceeded the annual and/or daily national health standard at air quality monitors in 55 small, mid-sized, and large metropolitan areas located in 21 states and home to 96 million people. States with exceedances of both standards included California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Utah.• In 2004, fine particle pollution exceeded the annual national health standard in 43 metropolitan areas crossing 21 states’ borders. Riverside- San Bernardino-Ontario, a large metropolitan area in California, had the worst annual fine particle pollution of any metropolitan area, with a maximum average annual level nearly 50 percent higher than the health standard. Among mid-sized and small metropolitan areas, Bakersfield and the Hanford-Corcoran areas in California had the worst annual fine particle pollution.• In 2004, fine particle pollution exceeded the daily national health standard in 20 metropolitan areas crossing 10 states’ borders. Fine particle pollution in these areas spiked above the standard 92 times on 45 days.• Among the states, Utah suffered the most spikes in fine particle pollution due to a winter-time temperature inversion, with 47 exceedances of the daily standard on 18 days in January and February of 2004. California experienced spikes in fine particle pollution on 16 days, recording 30 exceedances in cities and towns across the state.• Of the largest metropolitan areas, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania experienced the most days with spikes in fine particle pollution, recording seven exceedances on seven different days. The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area in California ranked second among the largest metropolitan areas, recording 14 exceedances on six different days.• Logan, a small metropolitan area on the border of Utah and Idaho, suffered the most spikes in fine particle pollution of any metropolitan area in the country—17 exceedances on 17 days. The Logan metropolitan area also recorded one of the highest exceedances in 2004, a maximum spike of 132.8, more than double the health standard.Unfortunately, the Clean Air Act’s New Source Review program, which is critical to reducing fine particle pollution from aging power plants, continues to come under attack. A recent analysis found that eliminating the program would cut short the lives of 70,000 Americans in the next two decades, as a result of higher levels of fine particle pollution in the air than current law permits. Policymakers should reject weakening changes to the program and instead enforce the law.Rather than take additional steps to further limit levels of fine particle pollution in our air, however, the Bush administration recently proposed to maintain the status quo. Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must set air quality standards at levels that protect public health, including the health of sensitive populations, with an adequate margin of safety. EPA also must review the standards every five years to ensure they reflect the latest scientific knowledge and update the standards as needed.EPA staff scientists and the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, an independent review committee, separately concluded in 2005 that the current standards do not adequately protect public health and recommended substantially strengthening the standards. The Bush administration, however, disregarded the advice of these experts, proposing in December 2005 to maintain the annual health standard of 15 µg/m3 and slightly lower the daily health standard from 65 µg/m3 to 35 µg/m3.Given the extent of fine particle pollution in the U.S. and the science showing serious adverse health effects below the current fine particle standards, the Bush administration should adopt an annual standard no higher than 12 µg/m3 and a daily standard no higher than 25 µg/m3 when it finalizes the standards in September 2006. http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/plagued-by-pollution-unsafe-levels-of-soot-pollution-in-2004 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:48:48 -0600 http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/made-in-the-u_s_a_-power-plants-and-mercury-pollution-across-the-country Power plants are the largest industrial source of U.S. air emissions of mercury, a potent neurotoxin that poses serious health hazards. Mercury is particularly harmful to the developing brain; even lowlevel exposure can cause learning disabilities, developmental delays, lowered IQ, and problems with attention and memory. While current law requires swift, steep reductions in power plant mercury emissions, the Bush administration recently promulgated regulations that allow power plants to avoid the Clean Air Act requirement to reduce mercury and other toxic air pollutants quickly and by the maximum achievable amount. This report uses the most recent available data reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Toxics Release Inventory to analyze power plant mercury emissions by state, county, zip code, facility, and company.When power plants burn coal or wastes containing mercury, their smokestacks emit mercury, some of which is washed out of the air onto land and into waterways, where it may be converted into methylmercury, an organic form of mercury that builds up in fish. Scientists found that a gram of mercury, about a drop, deposited in a mid-sized Wisconsin lake over the course of a year was enough to contaminate the lake’s fish.Eating contaminated fish is the primary pathway for human exposure. Indeed, mercury pollution is now so pervasive that 44 states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the EPA have issued fish consumption advisories warning people to avoid or limit their consumption of certain types of fish. Moreover, EPA scientists estimate that one in six women of childbearing age has enough mercury in her blood to put her child at risk should she become pregnant.This report analyzes the most recent EPA data on mercury air emissions from power plants. Key findings in the report include the following:Power plants in the U.S. collectively emitted 90,108 pounds of mercury into the air in 2003. Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Alabama were the states with the most mercury air emissions from power plants in 2003.Counties with the highest mercury air emissions from power plants were concentrated in states in the Gulf Coast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions. More than half of the top 50 counties with the highest mercury air emissions were located in just seven states: Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. In the top county, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, power plant mercury emissions totaled 1,527 pounds in 2003.The most polluting 100 facilities emitted 57,242 pounds of mercury into the air in 2003, or 64% of power plant mercury emissions. Most of these facilities—nearly 60%—were located in just nine states: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. Five of the 10 most polluting facilities were located in Texas.The most polluting 15 companies emitted 48,353 pounds of mercury in 2003, or 54% of total U.S. power plant mercury emissions. Three companies— American Electric Power, Southern Company, and Reliant Energy, which collectively own 57 facilities—emitted 19,694 pounds of mercury in 2003, or 22% of total U.S. power plant mercury emissions.Rather than let many of the nation’s power plants continue to emit or even increase their mercury emissions, the Bush administration should protect public health by rewriting its mercury rules to ensure the maximum, timely reductions in power plant mercury pollution that the law requires. http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/made-in-the-u_s_a_-power-plants-and-mercury-pollution-across-the-country Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:48:48 -0600 http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/danger-in-the-air-unhealthy-levels-of-air-pollution-in-2003 While air quality has improved in the last three decades, half of all Americans live in counties where air pollution exceeds national health standards.* Most of these places suffer from high levels of ozone and/or particle pollution. Ozone is the country's most pervasive air pollutant; particle pollution is the nation's deadliest air pollutant. Coal-fired power plants and motor vehicles are the largest sources of these pollutants. This report, which is based on a comprehensive survey of environmental agencies from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, examines levels of ozone and fine particle pollution in cities and towns across the country in 2003 and finds that air pollution continues to pose a grave health threat to Americans.Ground-level ozone, the primary component of smog, is a severe respiratory irritant that can aggravate asthma and cause other respiratory problems, including permanent lung damage. Fine particle pollution, or "soot," can bypass the body's defenses and cause serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks, lung cancer, and premature deaths."Danger in the Air: Unhealthy Levels of Air Pollution in 2003" is a compilation of 2003 data from the nation's network of ozone and fine particle air quality monitors, based on our comprehensive survey of state environmental agencies. Key findings include the following:Ozone levels in 40 states and the District of Columbia exceeded the 8-hour national health standard 4,583 times and the 1-hour health standard 684 times on 187 days in 2003. The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California metropolitan area was the most ozone-polluted large city; Bakersfield, California was the most ozone-polluted mid-sized city; and Merced, California was the most ozone polluted small city.Fine particle pollution exceeded the year-round national health standard in 20 states in 2003. Among large cities, the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California metropolitan area was most polluted by year-round particle pollution; Dayton, Ohio was most polluted by year-round particle pollution among mid-sized cities; and the Weirton-Steubenville, West Virginia-Ohio metropolitan area was most polluted by year-round particle pollution among small cities.Fine particle pollution exceeded the 24-hour national health standard 106 times on 39 days in 13 states in 2003. Of large cities, the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Metropolitan area was most polluted by spikes in particle pollution; of mid-sized cities, El Paso, Texas was most polluted by spikes in particle pollution; and of small cities, Missoula, Montana was most polluted by spikes in particle pollution.This report also includes preliminary ozone data for 19 states and the District of Columbia for 2004, which, like 2003, has been a relatively mild and wet summer. Yet, through the beginning of September 2004, ozone levels have exceeded the 8-hour health standard 602 times and the 1-hour standard 84 times in these areas.Until policymakers require tough cleanup standards for power plant smokestacks, Americans will continue to suffer serious health problems from ozone and fine particle pollution. Instead of taking action to solve this problem, the Bush administration is helping powerful energy companies rewrite the rules, weakening existing protections and making Americans even more vulnerable to the health effects of harmful pollutants.Given the extent of our air pollution problem, we need much stronger, not weaker, clean air protections. The Bush administration should:Substantially strengthen, accelerate, and finalize its proposal to cap smog- and soot-forming pollutants from power plants in the eastern U.S. to adequately protect public health and comply with the law.Designate all areas where people breathe unhealthy levels of fine particles as nonattainment areas and propose and finalize a strong rule to bring these areas into compliance with the health standards by the end of this decade, as required by the Clean Air Act.State environmental agencies and other policymakers should:Continue to reject the Bush administration's "Clear Skies" plan, which would replace the Clean Air Act's power plant cleanup programs with far weaker programs.Adopt a comprehensive program to reduce emissions of smog- and soot-forming pollutants, as well as carbon dioxide and mercury, from power plants.Ensure that states continue to have the authority to set clean air standards that are more protective than federal standards. http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/danger-in-the-air-unhealthy-levels-of-air-pollution-in-2003 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:48:48 -0600 http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/lethal-legacy-a-comprehensive-look-at-americas-dirtiest-power-plants Since taking office in 2001, President Bush and his administration have broken two important promises to the American public concerning pollution emitted by the nation's oldest and dirtiest power plants.Just 60 days after taking office, under intense pressure from electric utilities and the coal industry, the Bush administration retracted its campaign promise to support a mandatory cap on power plant emissions of carbon dioxide, the leading cause of global warming.Then, in August 2003, the Bush administration issued final rule changes to the Clean Air Act's New Source Review program, breaking a decades-old promise codified in the Clean Air Act itself—that old power plants, when making other life-prolonging modifications, would be required to install modern pollution controls. This policy change marks a full retreat from the previous administration's effort to enforce this law.Each of these broken promises carries with it serious consequences for public health and the environment.• Millions of tons of soot- and smog-forming emissions each year will go unchecked as a result of the administration's changes to the New Source Review program. This pollution will cause as many as 400,000 asthma attacks and 20,000 premature deaths each year.1• This same pollution will continue to cause acid rain and acid fog, which at current levels has rendered 25 percent of Adirondack lakes incapable of supporting life and has caused the decline of forest ecosystems throughout the Eastern U.S. and Canada.2• Our national parks and wilderness areas will continue to be shrouded in a pollution-induced haze, which already diminishes summertime visibility of treasured vistas, such as those in the Great Smokey Mountains and Shenandoah National Park, by as much as 90 percent.• The U.S., which emits the most carbon dioxide in the world, will continue to delay meaningful action to reduce its emissions of this global warming gas.As detailed below, enforcement of the Clean Air Act could dramatically cut emissions from the nation's dirtiest power plants, thereby protecting the environment and public health. Similarly, weakening the Clean Air Act—as the Bush administration has done—could erode progress made to improve the nation's air quality over the last three decades.Key FindingsThis report documents the 2002 emissions of smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx), soot-forming sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon dioxide (CO2) from the 548 dirtiest power plants in the nation and quantifies the emissions that will continue unabated as a result of the Bush administration's policies. Each of the plants examined in this report emitted at least 20 tons of "excess" NOx or SO2—emissions that could be eliminated if the plant was to install modern pollution control equipment.Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)Nationwide, the 548 dirtiest plants emitted 10.1 million tons of SO2 in 2002. This is about 64 percent of total SO2 emissions (about 15.8 million tons) from all sources in the U.S. in 2001.3 Of this pollution, 70 percent (7.1 million tons) was "excess," or could be eliminated if the plants met modern emissions standards.4 Enforcing—rather than weakening—the New Source Review rules would reduce SO2 emissions by at least this amount.5 Sulfur dioxide pollution forms fine-particle "soot," which causes health and environmental problems such as premature death from heart and respiratory problems, acid rain, and haze in our national parks.Nitrogen OxidesNationwide, these 548 plants emitted 4.4 million tons of NOx in 2002. This is nearly 20 percent of total NOx emissions (about 22 million tons) from all sources in the U.S. In 2001.6 Of this pollution, 62 percent (2.7 million tons) was "excess," or could be eliminated if the plants met modern NOx emission standards.7 Enforcing—rather than weakening—the New Source Review rules would reduce NOx emissions by at least this amount.8 NOx forms "smog" or ground-level ozone, which in turn exacerbates or even causes respiratory illness and asthma. Smog pollution also creates acid rain and clouds scenic vistas.Carbon dioxide (CO2)Nationwide, these 548 plants emitted 2.2 billion tons of CO2 in 2002. This is almost 35 percent of total CO2 emissions (about 6.4 billion tons) from all sources in the U.S. In 2001.9 CO2 is the leading cause of global warming.RecommendationsThe Bush administration should fulfill the promise of the Clean Air Act to clean up the dirtiest power plants as well as deliver on the President's campaign pledge to cut U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide. In order to ensure all Americans have healthy air to breathe, the Bush administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should faithfully implement the congressionally-mandated Clean Air Act programs applicable to power plants, including:• Rescinding recently adopted regulatory changes to the New Source Review program and enforcing the rules that were in place when the Bush administration took office;• Enforcing the ambient air quality standards to ensure that all Americans will breathe air that meets federal health standards by the end of this decade as required by the Clean Air Act;• Setting strong sulfur and nitrogen standards for power plants; and• Setting mercury emission standards by December 2004 that will require application of the maximum achievable control technology to reduce power plant mercury emissions by 90 percent by 2008.Overall, a sound policy to clean up air pollution from the nation's dirtiest power plants would:• Include mandatory carbon dioxide limits requiring real reductions of carbon dioxide from the electric power sector;• Eliminate "grandfathering" and ensure that every plant reduces NOx, SO2 and mercury emissions to levels reflecting application of state-of-the-art pollution controls;• Maintain current Clean Air Act requirements and deadlines for meeting air quality goals; and• Set aggressive national emission caps for power plant NOx, SO2 and mercury. http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/lethal-legacy-a-comprehensive-look-at-americas-dirtiest-power-plants Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:48:48 -0600 http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/fishing-for-trouble-how-toxic-mercury-contaminates-our-waterways-and-threatens-recreational-fishing Our environment, and now our food supply, is becoming increasingly contaminated with mercury, an extremely dangerous toxic chemical. When mercury is ingested in its organic form, methylmercury, it can lead to neurological damage, especially in children. Health impacts of exposure to mercury include attention and language deficits, impaired memory, inability to process and recall information, and impaired visual and motor function. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in its January 2003 study that 8% of American women of childbearing age have elevated levels of mercury in their bodies from eating contaminated fish. This means that approximately 322,000 newborns are at risk of neurological problems due to exposure in utero.Mercury Contamination is a Widespread and Growing ConcernCurrently, 43 states have advisories in effect for mercury-contaminated fish, warning the general population or sensitive subpopulations to reduce or avoid consumption, compared to only 27 states in 1993 and 39 states in 1997. This is nearly a 60% increase in 10 years. An analysis of EPA data from December 31, 2001 to December 31, 2002 found that:• State agencies have 2,148 active mercury advisories in effect for at least 12,111,733 acres of lakes (including statewide advisories), or almost 30% of all lake acres; 453,101 miles of river (including statewide advisories), or almost 13% of all river miles; 15,639 miles of coastal areas (not including statewide advisories); 2,333 miles of our Great Lake coasts and tributaries; and 166,534 acres of bayou.• 19 states (Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin) have issued statewide advisories for all of their inland freshwater lakes and/or rivers for at least one species of fish. Illinois, Florida, and Rhode Island have added, and North Carolina has rescinded, statewide advisories for inland waterways in the last year.• 11 states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Texas) have issued statewide advisories for their entire coastal areas for at least one species of fish, with Rhode Island being the most recent state to issue such advisories.• States have issued mercury advisories covering a greater area than ever before. Since 2001, the number of river miles under advisory for mercury has increased by 9% (up from 414,973 miles in 2001), and the number of lake acres under advisory for mercury has increased by 19% (up from 10,179,247 acres in 2001).Recreational Fishing at RiskFish consumption advisories for mercury cover a larger geographic area than ever before, putting recreational fishing in jeopardy. Fish consumption advisories cause many anglers to reduce the number of days they fish, choose other locations to fish, and take fewer overall fishing trips. Thus, not only does mercury threaten the health of those who eat the fish caught, but a damaged recreational fishing industry could take its toll on national and state economies.Even a small dent in the recreational industry could mean large economic losses. According to the American Sportfishing Association and the National Fish and Wildlife Service, in 2001, recreational fishing:• Generated more than $35.6 billion in expenditures;• Generated more than $116 billion in total economic output;• Supported more than one million jobs;• Created more than $30.1 billion in household income (wages and salaries);• Added more than $1.9 billion in sales tax revenues;• Added more than $470 million in state income tax revenues; and• Generated more than $4.88 billion in federal income tax revenues.Five of the top ten states with the most lake acres under mercury advisory, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Michigan, and Texas, are also in the top ten for the amount of money spent towards recreational fishing. In addition, two of the ten states with the largest number of river miles under advisory, Florida and Ohio, are also in the top ten for spending on fishing. In fact, nine of the 19 states with statewide mercury advisories covering all of their inland lakes or rivers, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, also fall in the top twenty states for expenditures on recreational fishing. Of all the money spent on fishing, more than $27.8 billion was spent in states that have active fish consumption advisories for mercury.Addressing the Problem at the SourceTo protect public health, preserve a critical part of our diet and ensure the survival of an important American pastime, we need to dramatically reduce the mercury released into our environment.Much of the mercury that ends up on our dinner tables comes from smokestacks of power plants, waste incinerators, and other industrial sources. Power plants are responsible for nearly one-third of man-made mercury emissions, comprising the largest industrial source of mercury entering our air. To date, EPA has regulated mercury emissions from other sources such as incinerators, but has failed to do so for power plants.Under the Clean Air Act, EPA is under court order to propose emission standards for power plants for hazardous air pollutants, including mercury, by the end of this year. These standards would go into effect by January 2008. The standards, known as “maximum achievable control technology” (MACT) standards, must reflect the emission rates currently being achieved by the lowest-emitting sources. Proven technology demonstrates that power plants can reduce mercury emissions by 90% using technologies that exist today, bringing national mercury emissions down from nearly 50 tons per year to only five tons per year.Unfortunately, EPA has postponed conducting an analysis of possible emissions reduction scenarios under its upcoming MACT rule and is instead focusing on its analysis of a proposed weakening of the Clean Air Act to allow higher emissions of mercury from power plants. The Bush administration’s so-called “Clear Skies Initiative” would repeal the Clean Air Act section that applies to mercury from power plants, replacing this provision with a national emissions limit that would delay ultimate reductions until 2018. Even then, it would allow power plants to emit three times more mercury than would be allowed under a strict interpretation of current law.We urge the following policies to address the health hazards posed by mercury in our environment:1) U.S. EPA should faithfully implement the Clean Air Act to reduce mercury emissions from power plants by at least 90% from existing levels; and2) The Bush administration should abandon its so-called “Clear Skies” air pollution plan. http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/fishing-for-trouble-how-toxic-mercury-contaminates-our-waterways-and-threatens-recreational-fishing Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:48:48 -0600 http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/in-gross-violation-how-polluters-are-flooding-americas-waterways-with-toxic-chemicals October 18, 2002 marks the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, landmark legislation that set the ambitious goals of making all waterways fishable and swimmable by 1983 and eliminating the discharge of pollutants into the nation’s waterways by 1985. Although we have made important strides in water quality since the birth of the Clean Water Act, we are far from realizing its original vision.In August 2002, U.S. PIRG and the state PIRGs released their annual report, Permit to Pollute, documenting the lax enforcement of the Clean Water Act by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state environmental agencies. We found that nearly 30% of major facilities examined were in Significant Non-Compliance with their Clean Water Act permits for at least one quarter during the 15 months beginning January 1, 2000 and ending March 31, 2001.Using previously non-public information provided by EPA in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, this report builds on the findings of Permit to Pollute. Rather than focusing on facilities categorized by EPA as in Significant Noncompliance for permit exceedances or paperwork violations, for the first time we analyze all major facilities exceeding their Clean Water Act permits, reveal the type of pollutants they are discharging illegally in our waterways and detail the extent to which these facilities are exceeding effluent permit levels. We focus on permit exceedances for high hazard pollutants: toxicants known or suspected to cause cancer, reproductive and developmental disorders, and other serious non-cancer health effects.On the Clean Water Act’s 30th anniversary, we find that facilities across the country continue to violate the letter and spirit of the law, at times egregiously, for high hazard chemicals.Key Findings Include:Thousands of facilities continue to break the law.• Nationally, 5,116 major facilities (81%) exceeded their Clean Water Act effluent permit limits at least once between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2001, including 1,768 facilities (28%) for discharging chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer and/or serious non-cancer health effects.• The ten states or territories that allowed the highest percentage of major facilities to exceed their Clean Water Act effluent permit limits at least once for high hazard chemicals are Puerto Rico, Ohio, Rhode Island, District of Columbia, Virgin Islands, New York, Arizona, Massachusetts, West Virginia and Indiana.These facilities often break the law more than once and for more than one pollutant.• Nationally, 262 major facilities exceeded their effluent permit limits for at least 10 reporting periods between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2001 for chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer and/or serious non-cancer health effects.• Nationally, major facilities reported almost 88,000 exceedances of their Clean Water Act effluent permit limits between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2001, including 15,803 exceedances for discharging chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer and/or serious non-cancer health effects.• The ten states or territories that allowed the most exceedances of Clean Water Act effluent permit limits between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2001 for high hazard chemicals are Puerto Rico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Indiana, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Louisiana and Florida.These facilities often break the law egregiously.• Major facilities, on average, exceeded their effluent permit limits for high hazard chemicals by 849%, or more than eight times the legal limit, between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2001.• Nationally, major facilities reported 1,562 instances between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2001 in which they exceeded their Clean Water Act effluent permit limits for chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer and/or serious non-cancer health effects by at least tenfold (1000%), and 363 instances of violations exceeding 100-fold (10,000%).• The ten states or territories that allowed the greatest number of egregious permit exceedances—at least 500%, or five times, over the effluent permit limits— between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2001 for high hazard chemicals are Puerto Rico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Maine and North Carolina.At a time when our leaders should be working with the states to address this illegal pollution and make all of our waterways fishable and swimmable, the Bush administration has suggested, proposed, or enacted numerous policies that would weaken the Clean Water Act and threaten the future of America’s rivers, lakes, streams and oceans. Rather than weakening the Clean Water Act, the Bush administration and our elected officials should mark the 30th anniversary of this critical legislation by tightening enforcement of Clean Water Act programs; strengthening standards to protect our rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands; and ensuring the public’s right-to-know about water pollution by increasing and improving access to compliance data and discharge reporting. http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/reports/air-and-water/clean-air-and-water-reports/in-gross-violation-how-polluters-are-flooding-americas-waterways-with-toxic-chemicals Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:48:48 -0600