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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Utilities Poison Water to Meet EPA Air Regs

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(Newser) – A federal law that keeps utilities from poisoning the air is causing toxic metals to infiltrate US waterways, the Washington Post reports. As the Environmental Protection Agency debates possible solutions with lawmakers, utility companies are storing pollutants like mercury and selenium in sludge ponds that eventually leak into lakes and rivers.

It makes no sense to solve “one environmental problem by creating another," one green advocate said. Highly toxic selenium, meanwhile, is contaminating fish that end up on dinner plates; some states have issued consumer warnings. And utilities are often caught between state or local laws and the EPA. “The standards we have to meet, we are meeting," said one director whose utility produces selenium at 100 times over EPA limits.

A flock of geese fly past a smokestack at the Jeffery Energy Center coal power plant near Emmitt, Kan.
A flock of geese fly past a smokestack at the Jeffery Energy Center coal power plant near Emmitt, Kan.   (AP Photo)
The water in Tar Creek flows orange with acid mine water near Miami, Okla.
The water in Tar Creek flows orange with acid mine water near Miami, Okla.   (AP Photo)
The coal-fired Plant Schereris in operation at Juliette, Ga.
The coal-fired Plant Schereris in operation at Juliette, Ga.   (AP Photo)
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Doctor_Zaius
May 2, 09 9:55 PM CDT
Just remember we are also swimming in that toxic soup. We need clean, renewable energy now. Reply
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Robert_Dada
May 3, 09 1:02 PM CDT
Absolutely. I'm so tired of people in this country saying it is unfeasible and cost prohibitive, yet we see other countries doing it like Costa Rica, Denmark, etc. We've allowed our politicians and ourselves to become enslaved to big business and their short sighted self interests.
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NewserLover
May 3, 09 2:20 PM CDT
Is there no one who will step forward and force polluters to clean up their act? The terms "renewable energy, clean energy, global warming, climate change" and the like, are just terms used to pull the wool over the publics eyes to the very things that are KILLING us - POLLUTION! Isn't anyone else sick and tired of all the funding that is geared towards issues that are delaying laws that need to be put into effect immediately to stop killing out people? Instead, Joe six-pack is forced to drink poisoned water, inhale toxic fumes and consume artificial food substances and packaging. Oh yes, let's not forget binging the little guy with carbon tax, green tax, invisible tax, any kind of tax that will fuel the debate about the ice melting. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of people that are now employed to keep issues in the public eye that have nothing to do with solving the real issues at stake sucking the coffers dry. That will surely help...NOT! Joe six-pack is not responsible for hundreds of thousands of businesses spewing toxic chemicals into our atmosphere or annihilating old growth forests to make toilet paper with. Corporate greed is responsible for that. Even the politicians won't stand up to them. They have their eye on the mighty tax dollars that might be lost if corporate america would be forced to apply modern technology to their antiquated production standards. Yet we the people, are forced to buy twenty dollar light bulbs that last as long as the 59 cent varieties because we are taught to believe we should all go green. Let's just all spit in the ocean on Friday at 2pm and call the problem solved! Wake up people! The government isn't going to help us out of this mess. Corporate america isn't going to help us out of this mess. The little guy is going to have to roll up their sleeves and start shoveling this bullshit back where it belongs. I didn't ask for these poisons to be in our air, water and food, did you? We are going to have to start screaming bloody murder until the laws are changed. Keep in mind what the real issues are and FIGHT for LAW REFORM! Reply
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