Nevada Mercury Pollution: Groups Challenge Reports
Friday, October 26, 2007
Las Vegas, NV – Two Nevada gold mines have been put on notice by environmental groups to get their mercury emissions reporting in order, or they will be hauled into court. John Hadder with Great Basin Mine Watch, explains the Florida Canyon Mine reported no mercury pollution to the Environmental Protection Agency for the past eight years, then a significant amount showed up in the latest report to the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection.
"All of a sudden it's 440 pounds of mercury in 2006, with nothing reported in the past eight years. Looks like something is going on that they need to clarify in their reporting."
Hadder says a similar problem occurred at the Rawhide Mine. Taken together, he says the two mines went from reporting near zero to reporting almost 800 pounds of mercury emissions in a single year.
Hadder says the two mines are being given a chance to clear up the apparent discrepancy.
"The idea of the 60 day notice is to 'let's see if we can avoid going to court on this.' If they don't take action to correct the reporting and to provide consistent information to both agencies, then we very well may take them to court."
Keri Powell with Earth Justice says hundreds of pounds of mercury pollution should be a concern, especially for pregnant mothers and families with young children.
"Mercury is a very powerful neurotoxin and is dangerous for young children. It can lead to a poor attention span and delayed language development, as well as impaired memory and vision."
A spokesman for the mining industry argues the recent reports are based on actual measurements, rather than estimates, and he said the latest data is a sign that Nevada's new monitoring program is effective.
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