Draft mercury rule ready for public comment
In March, the Natural Resources Board approved for public comment a draft rule regulating mercury from coal-burning power plants in Wisconsin.

Mercury pollution is posing a serious health threat and is destroying our ability to enjoy Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers. Mercury is a toxin that can affect the nervous system and is especially dangerous for children. In fact, it is estimated that 1 in 8 women in Wisconsin of childbearing age has enough mercury in her bloodstream to potentially harm a developing child.

The largest industrial source of mercury pollution in Wisconsin is coal-fired power plants. Fortunately, we have the technology to reduce mercury emissions from power plants drastically and quickly. Wisconsin Environment is working to pass a mercury rule that will reduce mercury pollution from coal-burning power plants by 90 percent by 2012.

Congress to take up protection of all U.S. waterways
Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972 to protect all of the nation’s waters. But due to pressure from polluting industries, the Bush administration instructed the EPA to provide “no protection” for smaller waterways and millions of acres of wetlands.

A bipartisan coalition in Congress has re-introduced the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act. The bill restates and clarifies that the original intent of the Clean Water Act was to protect all waters of the United States, no matter what their size. We strongly supported the legislation last year, and help build a strong list of cosponsors, including 163 representatives and 16 senators. Our work to restore and expand co-sponsorship in the 110th Congress is off to a good start, and we hope to report on the bill’s passage later in the year.

Protecting our national parks
From Grand Canyon National Park to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail to Glacier National Park, our national parks are visited by millions of people each year. They preserve our country’s natural heritage. Unfortunately, the parks system currently faces an annual funding shortfall of more than $800 million, an unacceptable lack of resources that adversely affects the ability of park staff to manage these historic sites.

Along with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), we’re calling for a significant increase in funding for the parks. In early February, the president released his 2007 budget, which included an unprecedented $250 million increase to the National Park System.

“The increase in funding is a great promise,” said Preservation Advocate Zach Brown. “Only a long-term, national commitment to our most valuable natural heritage will help re-establish a system of world-class parks.”