Washington D.C., Mar 22, 2019 / 15:32 pm
A proposal to ease regulations on mercury pollution levels in the air fails to show proper respect for human life and health, said the heads of two committees at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Friday.
"The proposed change to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule is troubling since it is well-documented that pregnant mothers and their unborn children are the most sensitive to mercury pollution and its adverse health effects," said Archbishop Joseph Naumann, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Pro-life Activities.
Archbishop Naumann was joined by Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida, who heads the bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development in voicing concern over the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed changes to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, decade-old regulations that have led to an 85 percent decrease in mercury emissions at coal-based power plans.
The EPA believes it is no longer "appropriate and necessary" to regulate mercury and other toxic pollutants from power plants.