While there has been some progress in cleaning up the river, this newspaper report reminds us all that there are still problems to be addressed:
Of local interest, the report disclosed additional problems with the James River in Richmond.
The stretch from the Boulevard Bridge to just upriver from the Mayo Bridge — an area popular with paddlers, waders and swimmers — was listed as polluted with mercury and the long-banned pesticides DDT and chlordane.
That stretch already was known to be polluted by fecal bacteria, primarily from the waste of wildlife and upriver cattle, among other sources.
DEQ spokesman Bill Hayden said the additional pollutants don’t pose a threat to people in the river. They primarily mean that eating fish from that stretch could be unsafe.
Gerel said, “More than likely all this has been there forever, and we just haven’t caught it” until now.
Some mercury, however, could be getting in the river from air pollution from coal-burning power plants, Gerel said.
It is time to send Big Coal a message! Join us Monday, in Arlington.
Dear Sierra Club members and friends,
Big Coal is doing everything within their power to sabotage progress on climate change and to block stronger regulations on coal pollution.
The U.S. EPA has just proposed stronger regulations on toxic coal ash that is poisoning our water all over the country, increasing the risk of cancer, learning disabilities, birth defects and other illnesses. Of course, the coal industry and utilities don’t want to accept responsibility for toxic coal ash or any of the other consequences, from climate change to mountaintop removal.
Sign up today: http://action.sierraclub.org/coalash_arlington
We have an opportunity to send Big Coal and the utilities a message at the EPA hearing in Arlington next Monday, August 30th.
We need you to attend this hearing to stand up to Big Coal and tell the EPA that they must move forward with efforts to protect us all from the toxic coal ash that is largely unregulated. Proposals to regulate coal ash have languished for more than 20 years because each time the utilities and Big Coal have been able to pressure EPA to back down.
That is why we need your help. Please join us next Monday, August 30th. Here are the details:
TIME: Morning session from 10am to 12pm, afternoon session from 1pm to 5pm, evening session from 6:30pm to 9pm or later. Each person will have 3 minutes to speak. Please join us for a press conference at 12 noon in the Hyatt Regency!
WHERE: Potomac Room, Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202, Shuttle or 9S Metrobus from Crystal City Metro; Phone: (703) 418-1234 (map).
CONTACT: Kate Pollard at kate.pollard@sierraclub.org or 703-865-6659 with any questions, or can’t make it but still want to get involved.
For more details, to sign up to speak or just to let us know you are coming, please go to: http://action.sierraclub.org/coalash_arlington
Glen Besa, Director
Sierra Club-Virginia Chapter
422 E. Franklin St, Suite 302
Richmond, VA 23219
glen.besa@sierraclub.org
O 804-225-9113 x104
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