NCC Applauds Mercury Safeguards
that Save Lives, Protect Creation and Communities

December 22, 2011, Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday released a final rule outlining new mercury and air toxics standards that will prevent thousands of premature deaths, reduce air pollution, and avoid millions of missed school and work days.

“We have waited a long time for these strong standards,” said Cassandra Carmichael, Director of the NCC’s Eco-Justice Program.

“The reduction of mercury, arsenic and other air toxics in God’s Creation and our communities will literally save thousands of lives each year,” Carmichael said.

Over the past year, thousands of clergy, lay leaders and people of faith from around the country have weighed in with President Obama and the EPA, urging them to implement the best possible standards. Now the strongest air toxics standards the United States has ever seen regarding mercury are enacted.

“We are grateful for these new air toxic standards that will improve the health and well-being of our communities and Creation in the years to come. These standards are in keeping with our Christian teachings   to seek justice for all of God’s children and be good stewards of Creation," said Carmichael.

Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for shared ecumenical witness among Christians in the United States. The NCC's 37 member communions -- from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches -- include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.

NCC News contact:  Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 646-853-4212 (cell), pjenks@ncccusa.org