Allen Pitches House Version of Obama's Senate Bill Banning Exports of Mercury

It seems to be just common sense that since we are struggling with limiting the amount of mercury we release into our environment from all man-made activities that we would try to stop the distribution of the toxin altogether. Yet for all the U.S. has done, and proposes to do in the near future, the U.S. is still a leader in the export of mercury around the world.

Illinois Senator, and 2008 Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama introduced a Bill into the Senate last week called The Mercury Export Ban Act that will hopefully end that dubious distinction.

“The more we learn about mercury, the more we discover how harmful it is to our health,” said Senator Barack Obama. “While the United States has become more vigilant in collecting and containing mercury, it remains one of the leading exporters of this dangerous product. This legislation would cause the U.S. to lead by example, encouraging other nations to protect public health by eliminating their dependence on mercury.”

Now the House version of the Bill is being presented by Maine Rep Tom Allen. By banning exports from the large US stockpiles the price of mercury should go up on world markets forcing users to look for alternatives in its place. It only makes sense if there are alternatives to seek them out. There are already many bans on mercury containing products being passed and discussed around the country.

Also, Tom Allen from Maine is sponsoring another Bill aimed at reducing mercury pollution. This one,

... the Comprehensive National Monitoring Program Establishment Act, co-sponsored by Rep Jim Walsh from N.Y., would create a national protocol for monitoring mercury pollution of soil, water and living organisms. This monitoring system, Allen hopes, would address the recently discovered problem of mercury "hotspots" downwind from mercury-emitting power plants. Dr. David Evers of the Biodiversity Research Institute in Gorham, one of the scientists that discovered numerous hotspots across New England, gave input during the drafting of this bill.

This Bill is in support of Maine's Senator Susan Collins' Bill introduced into the Senate last week. It is not surprising to see strong pushes for more action on mercury emissions and mercury monitoring from the State of Maine. Maine is the location of recently discovered mercury hotspots and sits at the farthest east location downwind of all the industrial pollution.

The excerpt just above is from The Portsmouth Herald's Sea Coast Online, the full article is here. And the excerpt further up the column is from All American Patriots and a link to that article is here.