Michigan Attorney General Asks Supreme Court for an Emergency Stay of the Life-Saving Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

NEWS RELEASE

“The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards are vitally important clean air protections that were the subject of rigorous review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit – which just decided unanimously against a stay in December. The lower court’s decision means that millions of Americans will remain safe from the serious, and sometimes deadly, health problems caused by mercury, arsenic and acid gases while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carries out its responsibilities under the law.

“EPA has already issued a proposed supplemental finding reaffirming the enormous public health benefits of reducing mercury and other toxic air pollution for our communities, as well as the cost-effective solutions that are at hand. EPA has made clear that it will complete its work within the next two months – by April of 2016. An emergency stay would put American families, our children, in harm’s way of hazardous, devastating air pollution.

“The state of Michigan is already suffering from an environmental disaster right now, with lead-contaminated water in Flint. Both lead and mercury are linked to brain damage in children – yet, instead of focusing vital public resources to clean up Flint’s drinking water, Michigan officials have devoted years of public resources to undermining efforts to protect children from mercury, arsenic and other toxics. Michigan families, and all Americans, need leaders who will fight to protect children from dangerous toxics instead of obstructing those safeguards.

“We look forward to presenting a rigorous and legally sound argument against a stay to the Supreme Court.”

- Vickie Patton, general counsel for EDF, which is a party to the case