Arkansas Power Plants Among Nation’s Worst Mecury Emitters

First posted on 11-21-2008

A report released yesterday by the Environmental Integrity Project named two coal-fired power generating plants as among the 50 worst emitters of mercury into the environment. The same report also placed Arkansas among the “Dirty Dozen” states with the highest number of plants generating the biggest volume of mercury emissions.

The report said that the 50 worst emitters combined for a total of 20 tons of mercury released into the air in 2008. A dangerous toxin linked to brain damage and other health problems, mercury can find its way into food sources, most notably fish.

The two power plants named in the report are both owned by Entergy Arkansas - the Independence plant in Independence County, Arkansas which ranked 30th overall and the White Bluff plant in Jefferson County, Arkansas which was number 43 on the list.

The report also cited that emissions at the White Bluff plant actually fell by over 6.5 percent from 2006 until 2008, but that good news was tempered by the 16.75 percent rise in emissions at the Independence facility.

James Thompson, a spokesperson for Entergy, remarked that both plants were operating within limits established by the state and federal governments and said they did not pose any significant health hazards at these emissions levels.

The report was critical of the Environmental Protection Agency for not imposing tougher emissions standards on coal-fired power plants.