National Wildlife Federation Report Card

Shows New Jersey Doing a Partial Job of Reducing Mercury Pollution

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association March 2005 Newsletter)

State Needs to Maintain Momentum and Address All Sources

TRENTON, NJ (February 3, 2005) - The state of New Jersey receives good grades for its efforts to reduce mercury pollution and exposure, according to a report released today by several environmental organizations that compared actions by mid-Atlantic states in addressing mercury.

            Mercury in the Mid-Atlantic: Are States Meeting the Challenge?, was released by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA), and New Jersey Environmental Federation (NJEF).  The groups gave the state a grade of “A” for its control of mercury air emissions – the highest in the region.  However, the state also received a “D-” for its efforts to phase-out the sale, use, and disposal of mercury-containing products – the lowest in the region. The report graded the state in seven categories, with an overall score of “B” for New Jersey.

“If New Jersey truly intends to take the risks of mercury contamination seriously, it needs to go after mercury pollution from products as aggressively as it addressed air emissions,” says Catherine Bowes, Program Manager for NWF’s Clean the Rain Campaign. “Future generations of people and wildlife in New Jersey depend on comprehensive action by the state to prevent all sources of mercury pollution.”

New Jersey has made significant progress to reduce mercury pollution from the state’s power plants, incinerators, and smelters.  NJ Department of Environmental Protection formally adopted regulations to reduce mercury pollution at these sources at least 75%, and up to 95%.  These are the strongest regulations in the nation, earning New Jersey the highest grade in the report for addressing mercury air pollution.

“All of New Jersey’s waterways are contaminated with mercury pollution that threatens public health.  New Jersey must uphold these strong emission standards to reduce toxic pollution from power plants and other industries,” said Emily Rusch, Energy Advocate for NJPIRG.

However, New Jersey has not done enough to reduce the sale, use, or disposal of mercury-added products such as thermostats, switches and relays, and novelty uses.  State legislation (S-1292/A-2482), sponsored by Senator Steve Sweeney and Assemblyman John Burzichelli (both D-Gloucester), directs the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to establish a program for the removal of mercury switches from vehicles at the end of their useful lives. It has passed the State Assembly and is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Budget Committee this Monday, February 7.  In addition, New Jersey has not addressed the issue of dental mercury from fillings. 

“It’s not enough to try and control mercury pollution, we need to prevent it. That’s why it’s so important that the mercury switch bill become law this month. It will help protect the environment, public health and 5,000 jobs in New Jersey’s steel recycling industry,” said David Pringle of the NJ Environmental Federation and the New Jersey Partnership for Mercury-Free Vehicles, a coalition of every segment of New Jersey's steel recycling and manufacturing industries (200 businesses) and environmental groups.

Mercury pollution in New Jersey not only impacts public health – it also threatens one of the state’s treasured pastimes – recreational fishing.  In 1995, New Jersey issued a statewide fish consumption advisory for mercury covering its 6,400 miles of rivers and 24,000 acres of lakes.  Under the advisory, women and children are urged to limit their consumption of fish caught in the state’s waters to one meal per month or less, depending on the species of fish and the water body.  Tom Fote, Legislative Chairman for Jersey Coast Anglers Association and NJ State Federation of Sportsmen Clubs, says "I am happy that New Jersey is ahead of other states in trying to lower mercury emissions, but we need to continue to raise the bar.  JCAA will be funding a study to investigate mercury levels in fish consumed by recreational anglers. Current data is sorely lacking, and we need more information so that anglers and the public can make informed decisions on what fish to consume.”

New Jersey’s efforts to date were analyzed along with those of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland.  Throughout the region, states have taken a piecemeal approach to this issue – only addressing limited aspects of the problem.

New Jersey, for example, is the only state to control air emissions of mercury from coal-fired power plants – the largest source of mercury air pollution in the country.  New York has taken the most aggressive action in the region to control mercury releases from consumer products, as well as from dental offices.  The groups call on New Jersey and all states in the Mid-Atlantic to take action to comprehensively address mercury pollution and exposure. 

For the full analysis of Mid-Atlantic States’ progress in addressing mercury pollution and exposure, including all grades for all states, see Mercury in the Mid-Atlantic: Are States Meeting the Challenge?, online at www.nwf.org/news. 

National Wildlife Federation is America's conservation organization protecting wildlife for our children's future.

The NJ Environmental Federation is a non-profit 501 (c)(4) organization fighting to protect natural resources and drinking water, reduce the use of pesticides, and clean up pollution. NJEF is the state chapter of Clean Water Action and has 100 member groups and 70,000 individual members. NJEF empowers people to make democracy work.

The Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA) is an association of more than 75 saltwater fishing clubs, with a combined membership exceeding 30,000, that represents the position of marine sport anglers, champions their causes, and protects their rights in matters pertaining to fishing, fisheries, and environmental quality.

The New Jersey Public Interest Research Group has 25,000 citizen members across the state. 

Contact:           NWF: Catherine Bowes (802) 272-1243, Lisa Swann 703-438-6083

            NJEF: David Pringle (732) 996-4288

            JCAA:  Tom Fote (732) 270-9102

            NJPIRG: Emily Rusch 609-394-8155 x307