Supporting the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed emission standards for mercury and other air toxins.

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia wishes to become the Greenest City in America by 2015 and a leader in clean energy development and technology; and

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, Environmental Protection Agency 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, On May 24, 2011, one of three public hearings was held by the Clean Air Council in Philadelphia to submit their official support for the proposal by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

, That we hereby support the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed emission standards for mercury and other air toxins.

End