Kerry: The Merrimack Valley is Ground Zero of Mercury Pollution

[kerrygoddess]

The Merrimack Valley is Ground Zero of Mercury Pollution
18 May 2005



John Kerry released a statement today regarding the lawsuit filed by MA Attorney General Tom Reilly and the Attorney Generals of 9 other states (CA,CO, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ME, VT, WI), to stop Mercury Pollution. This issue struck home for me, because I grew up in the Merrimack Valley and lived there for 33 years. Both ocean and fresh water fish are considered to be contaminated in the Merrimack Valley area. For over a decade up to 5 solid waste incinerators continually pumped Mercury into the air without limitations.

“The EPA isn't living up to its responsibility to protect the people of Massachusetts from toxic mercury pollution. The Merrimack Valley is ground zero of mercury pollution, and it's clear that the administration's actions to undo pollution control standards will harm our families and our communities.

“I applaud Tom Reilly's decision to move forward with this lawsuit. When the Bush administration’s EPA refuses to turn over documents and hides the results of a Harvard study they commissioned themselves, we have a serious problem that must be addressed.

MORE & LINKS - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=917

[TayTay]

1. Yeah, Blinky the 3-headed fish from The Simpsons lives here

It's kind of sad to see. The physical area around the Merrimac has been cleaned up. (A lot of it through the efforts of Sen. Tsongas, a Merrimack Valley resident) and by his successor in the Senate, John Kerry. I see people fishing in the Merrimac all the time, too bad they really shouldn't eat their catch.

[rox63]

2. Another Merrimack Valley resident here

Hmm, as a life-long resident of the Merrimack Valley, maybe I should get checked for mercury poisoning. :scared:

[sandnsea]

3. Probably everybody should

"Utah, Wyoming, Iowa, Oklahoma, Hawaii and Alaska issued no mercury warnings." Doesn't mean there's no mercury concerns, I don't think. I don't see how Utah or Wyoming could not have mercury in their water, with all the mining in their states. Everybody should limit their fish intake, no matter where the fish come from. That's what I think anyway.