— The current season of presidential debates is providing us with entertainment but seems to be avoiding issues that really would clear the air for us, such as rules governing air pollution.

In March this year, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) proposed rules to clear 90 percent of the mercury from our air and water. It is now time for President Obama to show real presidential leadership and push us across the finish line on mercury pollution.

Over the last couple of years, a group of regular people in New Ulm encouraged our Public Utility Commission (PUC) to take a closer look at the environmental and economic implications of their plans to convert our local power plant to burn coal.

Emissions would have carried downwind along the Minnesota River Valley and beyond, affecting many more communities than our own. The PUC made a wise decision to stop plans for the coal-conversion, sparing the air and water in South-Central Minnesota from increased pollution.

The problem has been clear for a long time: Burning coal makes us sick. Mercury is one of the worst of the pollutants coal pumps out. It makes its way into local fish and then into us, who eat the fish we catch. It is a potent neurotoxin. Mercury exposure puts pregnant women and their babies at risk for learning disabilities, developmental disorders, and lower IQs.

According to the EPA, at least 1 in 12 American women of childbearing age (and possibly a lot more) have enough mercury in their bodies to put their babies at risk.

The pollution from burning coal causes a host of serious health problems — especially for children and senior citizens — including asthma, respiratory illness, cancer, neurological problems and heart disease.

Disposing of toxic coal ash is also dangerous: Studies show that living near a toxic coal ash site is worse for your health than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.

The federal mercury protections that EPA proposed in March of this year would reduce mercury in our air and water by over 90 percent. Clean air safeguards could prevent an estimated 17,000 premature deaths, 11,000 heart attacks, and over 12,000 hospital and emergency room visits each year.

Beyond the environment, the new EPA protections would reduce health care costs for working families and taxpayers by preventing illnesses caused by toxic pollution. Mercury protections would also create good new jobs — an estimated 31,000 short-term construction jobs and 9,000 permanent utility jobs — for workers installing and operating pollution-control equipment on existing power plants.

Reining in toxic mercury emissions will also speed the transition to clean energy that can put America back to work. By replacing dirty coal plants with investments in cleaner technologies, we can create thousands of good jobs here in the Mankato/New Ulm area and in Minnesota.

More than 800,000 Americans have already demonstrated their support for these mercury protections. To get this done, we need President Obama and the EPA to implement the proposed rules to rein in toxic mercury pollution with strong federal protections. Enough with the presidential theater; it is time for a presidential leader.



Dr. Charles Stephens is a physician in New Ulm in general family practice. He has been involved with youth sports in the soccer club and as a high school referee. Dr. Stephens is a member of New Ulm Citizens for Clean Energy.