According to the National Mining Association Mining Week newsletter, Gerard emphasized in his address, mercury policy must be based on science and not on “exaggerated risks”
Gerard said the mining industry did not oppose reducing mercury emissions beyond the 40% reduction already achieved with current technology. “Nor do we quarrel with the view, shared by most health scientists, that mercury is a persistent, toxic pollutant. The quarrel we have with our critics is not over whether to reduce emissions – it’s over how much to reduce them and how fast.”
Gerard said the NMA was concerned unreasonable controls and unrealistic timeframes on power plants could inadvertently disrupt domestic energy supplies and drive up energy costs and place some regions at a competitive disadvantage by failing to recognize differing coal characteristics.
