I am disappointed in the Chronicle editorial urging Congress to allow more time for Olin Corp. to cease its mercury pollution into the air and Savannah River. ("Lowering the mercury," Oct. 24).
During the past 44 years, Olin Corp.'s plant in Augusta has emitted thousands of pounds of toxic mercury into air and water in our community.
The Mercury Pollution Reduction Act (House Resolution 2190) would require this facility to stop using mercury, which can be accomplished by installing mercury-free technology, which is used to make 95 percent of American chlorine. Pushing the legislation's timeline back to 2018 (or 2020 as suggested by Olin) not only guarantees that this pollution will continue in Augusta, but that three other U.S. plants will continue to needlessly emit this harmful neurotoxin. For each year that the deadline is delayed, more than 700 pounds of mercury will be emitted.
Olin's switch to mercury-free technology could result in substantial energy savings for the company, and it will mostly pay for itself within five years.
The Mercury Pollution Reduction Act would require Olin and other chlorine manufacturers to stop mercury-based chlorine production by 2013 or modernize their plants with mercury-free technology by 2015. This date was set as a compromise by the sponsor who heard the companies' arguments and was willing to give them more time. Their demand for even more time suggests that their intention is simply to delay.
Olin does not need more than five years to convert its antiquated technology. In fact, it already has converted three of its plants, including a recent conversion at a facility in Louisiana, which took less than three years, despite being hampered by Hurricane Gustav.
If passed by Congress, the Mercury Pollution Reduction Act would require the few remaining mercury-based U.S. chlorine manufacturers to modernize their plants in a reasonable time period. Modernizing Olin's production technology would increase its plants' efficiency, protecting jobs while eliminating a major source of mercury pollution.
Margie McClain
Augusta
(The writer is a field organizer for the environmental conservation group Oceana.)
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How does Commission candidate, Matt Aitken, an Olin employee, feel about this matter? Has the Chronicle asked him to comment?
i asked that question a few weeks before the election. I doubt we'll get a response.
Put people's health the environment first. Keep the polluter on the 2012 decision time and no political favors.
Great LTE Margie!
I know what they are doing is wrong, but if I worked for them, I would be hard presssed to bad mouth them either.
It's funny how just last month there was a proposal to store Mercury at SRS. What ever happened to that? It probably a done deal. Now we know where the Mercury is going to go once they close the plant in 2020. At least it will not be going down the river or into the air after then.
Geesh... Aitken works for Olin?.... oh now it makes sense. Sorry Butch but I cannot go along with your endorsement of Aitken. I'll just write in a candidate. Both these guys stink.
write-in Butch.