DEP Secretary to Discuss State-Specific Mercury Rule, Air Quality Issues on Nation's Largest Religious Network

DEP Secretary to Discuss State-Specific Mercury Rule, Air Quality Issues on Nation's Largest Religious Network

Programs will Air Locally on WGTW-TV's 'Joy in Our Town'

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty will outline Pennsylvania's state-specific mercury reduction proposal and discuss other air quality issues on two upcoming programs airing locally on the nation's largest evangelical television network.

McGinty and host Shelia Bell-Thomas of WGTW-TV's "Joy in Our Town" will discuss Pennsylvania's effort to reduce toxic mercury pollution from coal- fired power plants. WGTW-TV is a Trinity Broadcasting Network-owned television station airing on Channel 48 throughout the Philadelphia area. TBN is the nation's largest and most-watched faith channel, with around-the-clock commercial-free programming for Protestant, Catholic and Jewish denominations.

The mercury issue is of serious concern to toxicologists, medical organizations, labor leaders, teacher associations, sportsmen, conservation organizations and others. The faith community -- including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Council of Catholic Women -- also has been outspoken.

The interview with McGinty will air on the following dates and times:

* 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25.
* 3:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26.
* 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28.
* 3:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29.
* 3:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 31.

On Feb. 22, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced a state-specific mercury reduction proposal that protects and grows the market share for bituminous coal while ensuring vastly greater protections to improve the environment and keep residents healthy and safe.

Governor's Rendell's plan would supersede a weaker rule finalized last year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The state rule would cut mercury emissions faster and more substantially than EPA's rule, achieving at least 90 percent mercury reduction by 2015.

The General Assembly currently is considering legislation that would block the state-specific plan and instead impose the flawed federal rule in Pennsylvania.

Public hearings on the state-specific plan were held this summer. The public comment period runs until Aug. 26. The state already has received nearly 3,000 commentator post cards and e-mails about the rule, nearly all in favor of the state-specific proposal.

Mercury is a persistent, bio-accumulative neurotoxin that can remain active in the environment for more than 10,000 years. It endangers pregnant women, the unborn, children, subsistence fishermen and recreational anglers who are most at risk for health effects that include brain and nervous system damage in children and heart and immune system damage for adults.

A second WGTW-TV program will detail regional air quality issues, including the health effects of summertime ozone and particulate matter and actions Pennsylvania is taking to reduce smog and pollution. The discussion between McGinty and Bell-Thomas on air quality issues will be broadcast on the following dates and times:

* 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18.
* 3:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19.
* 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21.
* 3:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22.
* 3:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 24.

Ozone in the upper atmosphere protects the skin by shielding it from harmful ultraviolet rays. But ground-level ozone is a key component of smog. It forms during warm weather when pollution from vehicles, industry, households and power plants "bakes" in the hot sun, making it hard for some people to breathe. Young children, the elderly, people with asthma or other lung ailments, and those who work or exercise regularly outdoors are most susceptible to the harmful effects of ground-level ozone.

Fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5, has a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, about one-thirtieth the diameter of a human hair. These particles -- which come from power plants, industry, cars, trucks, buses, wood stoves and forest fires -- can get deep into the lungs and cause significant health problems. PM 2.5 has been determined to be most closely associated with health effects related to increased hospitals admissions and emergency room visits for heart and lung disease, increased respiratory symptoms and disease, and decreased lung function.

Details about Pennsylvania's state-specific mercury reduction plan are available on DEP's Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us. Click on "Mercury Reduction Plan." Background on air quality can be found at Keyword: "Air Quality."

CONTACT: Ron Ruman

717-787-1323

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

CONTACT: Ron Ruman of DEP, +1-717-787-1323

Web site: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/

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