Two air pollution bills will come to the floor of the New Hampshire House this week. This article explains what they are, what you can do, and who you need to contact. At the end of the article is a list of legislators who need to be contacted about this issue.

HB315 calls for the use of Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for all stationary sources of air pollution in New Hampshire. HB517 calls for a study on the effects of burning Construction and Demolition debris (C&D) and a moratorium on such burning until the completion of the study. We need both the technological fix in HB 315 and the in-depth study of C&D burning in HB517. But it seems that some legislators are labeling HB517 redundant and want to pass only HB315, which is not enough to protect the quality of our air.

Burning construction debris emits 87 toxins, including mercury, from paints, stains, broken florescent bulbs, broken thermostats and switches, and many other pollutants that are inseparable from the wood debris. Four New England states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont—have banned C&D burning altogether because of the adverse health effects on humans.

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The level of mercury in New England is reaching crisis levels. On March 8, the conclusion of a four-year study in the Northeast found that the level of mercury contamination is far more widespread than previously believed. Fully 83% of our rivers, lakes and streams are so contaminated that pregnant women cannot eat any fish caught in them. One-half gram of mercury is enough to contaminate 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Allowing any more mercury in emissions is unthinkable. With over a dozen C&D burning power plants in the planning stages in New Hampshire, we need to pass HB517 along with HB315 to begin to bring our emissions policy up to date.

Here¹s what you can do:

Please contact your legislators as soon as you can and ask them to vote yes on HB517 and HB315. Find out how to contact your legislators at: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/whosmyleg/

There is also a list of legislators who may be undecided on these bills below.

Here's what to say when you contact your reps:

• New and compelling evidence about the spread of mercury contamination has just been released.
• Other New England states have banned C&D burning.
• Mercury contamination is at crisis levels in parts of New Hampshire and the approval of any source of additional mercury, no matter how well controlled, must be closely examined.
• The heavy metal contamination released by C&D burning is damaging to children and pregnant mothers in small amounts and persists at all levels of the food-chain, accumulating in larger animals such as human beings.

References:

The recent report "Mercury Connections" by the BioDiversity Research Insititute can be found at: http://www.briloon.org/mercury

Please contact your Legislators as soon as you can and let them know that
the passage of both these bills together is important to you.

List of legislators likely to vote against the moratorium on C&D burning (HB517) or who were not voting at the time of the sample (based on those who voted to kill a bill that would require continuous sampling of emissions on stationary air pollution sources):

Abbott, Dennis, Democrat Rockingham 12, Yea
Aboshar, Jeffrey, Republican Hillsborough 13, Not Voting
Adams, Jarvis, Republican Hillsborough 02, Yea
Ahlgren, Christopher, Republican Carroll 04, Yea
Albert, Russell, Republican Strafford 01 Not Voting
Alger, John, Republican Grafton 06 Yea
Allan, Nelson, Republican Hillsborough 26 Yea
Allen, Janet, Republican Belknap 05 Yea
Allen, Mary, Republican Rockingham 11 Not Voting
Anderson, Eric, Republican Merrimack 13 Yea
Asselin, Michael, Republican Rockingham 07 Yea
Babson, David, Republican Carroll 03 Nay
Baines, Stephen, Republican Hillsborough 07 Yea
Balboni, Michael, Republican Hillsborough 21 Yea
Barker, Robert, Republican Grafton 06 Yea
Baroody, Benjamin, Democrat Hillsborough 13 Not Voting
Barry, J Gail, Republican Hillsborough 16 Not Voting
Batula, Peter, Republican Hillsborough 19 Yea
Bergeron, Jean-Guy, Republican Hillsborough 27 Yea
Bergin, Peter, Republican Hillsborough 06 Yea
Berube, Roger, Democrat Strafford 02 Yea
Bettencourt, David, Republican Rockingham 04 Yea
Bickford, David, Republican Strafford 03 Yea
Bicknell, Elbert, Republican Rockingham 01 Yea
Bishop, Franklin, Republican Rockingham 02 Yea
Biundo, Michael, Republican Hillsborough 15 Yea
Boehm, Ralph, Republican Hillsborough 27 Yea
Boyce, Laurie, Republican Belknap 05 Yea
Brassard, Paul, Democrat Hillsborough 17 Yea
Bridle, Russell, Republican Rockingham 15 Yea
Brown, Carolyn, Republican Carroll 01 Yea
Brown, Julie Republican Strafford 01 Not Voting
Brundige, Robert Republican Hillsborough 19 Yea
Buhlman, David Republican Hillsborough 27 Yea
Buxton, Donald Republican Rockingham 10 Yea
Cady, Harriet Republican Rockingham 01 Yea
Calawa, Leon Republican Hillsborough 27 Yea
Callaghan, Frank Democrat Strafford 01 Not Voting
Camm, Kevin Republican Rockingham 08 Yea
Campbell, W Packy Republican Strafford 03 Yea
Carew, James Republican Hillsborough 01 Yea
Carlson, Donald Republican Hillsborough 03 Not Voting
Carson, Sharon Republican Rockingham 03 Yea
Carter, Mark Republican Hillsborough 03 Yea
Cataldo, Sam Republican Strafford 03 Yea
Chabot, Robert Republican Hillsborough 17 Yea
Chandler, Gene Republican Carroll 01 Yea
Chaplin, Duncan Republican Strafford 03 Yea
Charron, Gene Republican Rockingham 07 Yea
Christensen, D L Chris Republican Hillsborough 19 Yea
Christiansen, Lars Republican Hillsborough 27 Yea
Cilley, Jacalyn Democrat Strafford 03 Not Voting
Clark, Charles Republican Belknap 05 Yea
Clark, Mark Republican Hillsborough 18 Yea
Clayton, William Democrat Hillsborough 10 Not Voting
Cooney, Richard Republican Rockingham 04 Yea
Coughlin, Pamela Republican Hillsborough 04 Not Voting
Crane, Elenore Casey Republican Hillsborough 21 Yea
Creteau, Irene Democrat Strafford 01 Not Voting
Dalrymple, Janeen Republican Rockingham 04 Yea
Danforth, James Republican Merrimack 06 Not Voting
Desmarais, Vivian Republican Hillsborough 14 Not Voting
Dexter, Judson Republican Cheshire 06 Yea
Dickinson, Howard Republican Carroll 01 Not Voting
DiFruscia, Anthony Republican Rockingham 04 Yea
Dodge, Robert Republican Rockingham 09 Yea
Dokmo, Cynthia Republican Hillsborough 06 Yea
Domingo, Baldwin Democrat Strafford 05 Not Voting
Donahue, Richard Ken Republican Rockingham 07 Yea
Dorsett, Andrew Republican Grafton 08 Not Voting
Dowd, John Republican Rockingham 05 Yea
Dowling, Patricia Republican Rockingham 05 Yea
Doyle, Christopher Republican Rockingham 04 Not Voting
Drisko, Richard Republican Hillsborough 05 Yea
Dumaine, Dudley Republican Rockingham 03 Yea
Dunlap, Patricia Republican Strafford 01 Not Voting
Dyer, Donald Republican Hillsborough 26 Yea
Easson, Timothy Republican Strafford 03 Not Voting
Eaton, Stephanie Republican Grafton 01 Not Voting
Egbers, Fran Democrat Hillsborough 10 Not Voting
Elliott, Nancy Republican Hillsborough 19 Yea
Emerson, Susan Republican Cheshire 07 Yea
Emerton, Larry Republican Hillsborough 07 Yea
Fesh, Bob Republican Rockingham 05 Not Voting
Field, William Republican Merrimack 07 Yea
Fitzgerald, James Republican Belknap 04 Not Voting
Flanders, Donald Republican Belknap 04 Not Voting
Flanders, John Republican Rockingham 08 Yea
Foote, Sheila Republican Cheshire 06 Not Voting
Forsing, Robert Republican Rockingham 02 Not Voting
Foster, Linda Democrat Hillsborough 04 Yea
Francoeur, Bea Republican Hillsborough 26 Yea
Francoeur, Sheila Republican Rockingham 15 Yea
Gale, Harry Republican Sullivan 03 Yea
Gargasz, Carolyn Republican Hillsborough 05 Yea
Gibson, John Republican Hillsborough 19 Yea
Gilbert, Karl Republican Rockingham 12 Yea
Gillick, Thomas Republican Rockingham 15 Yea
Ginsburg, Ruth Democrat Hillsborough 20 Not Voting
Gionet, Edmond Republican Grafton 03 Yea
Giuda, Robert Republican Grafton 05 Yea
Golding, William Republican Hillsborough 09 Not Voting
Gould, Kenneth Republican Rockingham 05 Yea
Goyette, Peter Republican Hillsborough 27 Yea
Graham, John Republican Hillsborough 18 Yea
Grassie, Anne Democrat Strafford 01 Not Voting
Griffin, Mary Republican Rockingham 04 Yea
Hagan, Barbara Republican Hillsborough 17 Yea
Hager, Elizabeth Republican Merrimack 12 Yea
Ham, Bonnie Republican Grafton 04 Yea
Hansen, Ryan Republican Hillsborough 06 Yea
Hawkins, Ken Republican Hillsborough 18 Yea
Headd, James Republican Rockingham 03 Yea
Heald, Bruce Republican Belknap 03 Yea
Hebert, Raymond Republican Hillsborough 17 Not Voting
Hellwig, Steve Republican Hillsborough 27 Yea
Heon, Richard Democrat Strafford 02 Not Voting
Hess, David Republican Merrimack 09 Yea
Hinkle, Peyton Republican Hillsborough 19 Yea
Hirschmann, Keith Republican Hillsborough 17 Yea
Hogancamp, Deborah Republican Cheshire 04 Yea
Holden, Randolph Republican Hillsborough 07 Yea
Hollinger, Jeffrey Republican Strafford 05 Yea
Hopfgarten, Paul Republican Rockingham 05 Yea
Hughes, Daniel Republican Rockingham 18 Yea
Hunt, John Republican Cheshire 07 Yea
Hunter, Bruce Republican Hillsborough 07 Not Voting
Hutchinson, Karen Republican Rockingham 03 Not Voting
Ingbretson, Paul Republican Grafton 05 Yea
Ingram, Russell Republican Rockingham 04 Yea
Introne, Robert Republican Rockingham 03 Yea
Irish, Christopher Republican Sullivan 04 Yea
Itse, Daniel Republican Rockingham 09 Yea
Jasper, Shawn Republican Hillsborough 27 Yea
Johnson, Nancy Democrat Strafford 03 Not Voting
Johnson, Robert Republican Rockingham 01 Yea
Johnson, Rogers Republican Rockingham 13 Yea
Katsakiores, George Republican Rockingham 05 Yea
Katsakiores, Phyllis Republican Rockingham 05 Yea
Keans, Sandra Republican Strafford 01 Not Voting
Kelly, Eugene Republican Hillsborough 20 Not Voting
Kidder, David Republican Merrimack 01 Yea
King, Frederick Republican Coos 01 Yea
Klose, John Republican Merrimack 08 Yea
Knowles, William Democrat Strafford 06 Yea
Kobel, Rudolph Republican Rockingham 01 Yea
L'Heureux, Stephen Republican Merrimack 09 Not Voting
Langlais, Thomas Republican Merrimack 08 Yea
Langley, Jane Republican Rockingham 18 Yea
Lary, Bruce Republican Coos 03 Not Voting
Lawrence, James Republican Hillsborough 27 Not Voting
Lessard, Rudy Republican Hillsborough 27 Not Voting
Lockwood, Priscilla Republican Merrimack 06 Yea
Lund, Howie Republican Rockingham 05 Yea
MacKay, James Republican Merrimack 11 Yea
Major, Norman Republican Rockingham 08 Yea
Manney, Pamela Republican Hillsborough 07 Yea
Manning, John Republican Rockingham 04 Not Voting
Marple, Richard Republican Merrimack 09 Yea
Martin, James Republican Carroll 05 Yea
Martin, Mary Ellen Democrat Hillsborough 26 Not Voting
Mason, April Republican Rockingham 13 Yea
Maxfield, Roy Republican Merrimack 06 Yea
Maybeck, Margie Republican Grafton 08 Yea
McConkey, Mark Republican Carroll 03 Yea
McKinney, Betsy Republican Rockingham 03 Yea
McMahon, Charles Republican Rockingham 04 Not Voting
McRae, Karen Republican Hillsborough 07 Yea
Mead, Robert Republican Hillsborough 04 Yea
Mears, Edgar Democrat Coos 04 Yea
Merrow, Harry Republican Carroll 03 Not Voting
Michon, Stephen Democrat Hillsborough 25 Yea
Millham, Alida Republican Belknap 05 Yea
Mirski, Paul Republican Grafton 10 Yea
Moody, Marcia Democrat Rockingham 12 Not Voting
Mooney, Maureen Republican Hillsborough 19 Yea
Moore, Benjamin Republican Rockingham 14 Not Voting
Moran, Edward Republican Hillsborough 18 Not Voting
Morneau, Renney Republican Coos 04 Not Voting
Morris, Richard Republican Rockingham 14 Yea
Naro, Debra Republican Grafton 07 Not Voting
Nedeau, Stephen Republican Belknap 03 Yea
Newton, Clifford Republican Strafford 01 Yea
Norelli, Terie Democrat Rockingham 16 Not Voting
Nowe, Ronald Republican Rockingham 09 Yea
O'Brien, William Republican Hillsborough 04 Yea
O'Connell, Timothy Republican Hillsborough 06 Yea
O'Neil, Michael Republican Rockingham 15 Yea
Olimpio, J Lisbeth Republican Carroll 05 Yea
Oliver, James Republican Merrimack 09 Yea
Packard, Sherman Republican Rockingham 03 Yea
Palangas, Eric Democrat Hillsborough 12 Not Voting
Palazzo, Frank Republican Rockingham 14 Yea
Parker, Benjamin Republican Rockingham 03 Yea
Patten, Betsey Republican Carroll 04 Yea
Pelkey, Stephen Republican Cheshire 07 Yea
Pepino, Leo Republican Hillsborough 11 Not Voting
Philbrick, Donald Republican Carroll 02 Yea
Potter, Frances Democrat Merrimack 10 Yea
Powers, James Democrat Rockingham 16 Not Voting
Price, Pamela Republican Hillsborough 26 Yea
Priestley, Anne Republican Rockingham 04 Yea
Putnam, Ed Republican Rockingham 08 Yea
Quandt, Marshall Lee Republican Rockingham 13 Yea
Quandt, Matthew Republican Rockingham 13 Yea
Rausch, James Republican Rockingham 05 Yea
Reardon, Tara Democrat Merrimack 11 Not Voting
Reed, Dennis Republican Merrimack 02 Not Voting
Reeves, Sandra Republican Hillsborough 08 Yea
Renzullo, Andrew Republican Hillsborough 27 Yea
Richardson, Herbert Republican Coos 02 Yea
Robertson, Carl Republican Rockingham 13 Yea
Rochette, Eric Democrat Hillsborough 23 Not Voting
Rodeschin, Beverly Republican Sullivan 02 Yea
Rolston, James Republican Rockingham 17 Yea
Rosen, Ralph Republican Belknap 04 Yea
Ross, Lawrence Republican Hillsborough 03 Not Voting
Rous, Emma Democrat Strafford 07 Not Voting
Rowe, Robert Republican Hillsborough 06 Yea
Rush, Deanna Democrat Merrimack 07 Not Voting
Russell, David Republican Belknap 06 Yea
Ryder, Donald Republican Hillsborough 05 Yea
Sanders, Elisabeth Republican Rockingham 07 Yea
Sawyer, Sheldon Republican Cheshire 02 Yea
Scamman, Stella Republican Rockingham 13 Not Voting
Scamman, W Douglas Republican Rockingham 13 Yea
Scanlon, Michael Republican Hillsborough 18 Yea
Shaw, Barbara Democrat Hillsborough 16 Yea
Shaw, Kimberly Democrat Hillsborough 26 Not Voting
Sinclair, Stephanie Democrat Cheshire 03 Not Voting
Slocum, Lee Republican Hillsborough 06 Yea
Smith, Marjorie Democrat Strafford 07 Not Voting
Smith, Paul Republican Rockingham 03 Yea
Snyder, Clair Democrat Strafford 02 Not Voting
Solomon, Peter Democrat Grafton 10 Not Voting
Soltani, Tony Republican Merrimack 08 Yea
Sorg, Gregory Republican Grafton 03 Yea
Stepanek, Stephen Republican Hillsborough 06 Yea
Stevens, Stanley Republican Carroll 04 Not Voting
Stiles, Nancy Republican Rockingham 15 Yea
Stohl, Eric Republican Coos 01 Yea
Stone, Joseph Republican Rockingham 01 Not Voting
Tahir, Saghir Republican Hillsborough 09 Yea
Tholl, John Republican Coos 02 Yea
Thomas, John Republican Belknap 05 Yea
Tilton, Franklin Republican Belknap 04 Yea
Tobin, William Republican Belknap 02 Yea
Twombly, James Republican Strafford 01 Not Voting
Ulery, Jordan Republican Hillsborough 27 Yea
Vaillancourt, Steve Republican Hillsborough 15 Yea
Veazey, John Republican Belknap 04 Not Voting
Velez, Hector Democrat Hillsborough 12 Yea
Villeneuve, Maurice Republican Hillsborough 18 Yea
Ward, John Republican Grafton 01 Yea
Waterhouse, Kevin Republican Rockingham 04 Yea
Weare, E Albert Republican Rockingham 14 Yea
Welch, David Republican Rockingham 08 Yea
Weldy, Norman Republican Rockingham 02 Not Voting
Wells, Roger Republican Rockingham 08 Not Voting
Wendelboe, Fran Republican Belknap 01 Yea
Weyler, Kenneth Republican Rockingham 08 Not Voting
Whalley, Michael Republican Belknap 05 Yea
Wheeler, James Republican Hillsborough 06 Yea
Whiting, Herbert Republican Merrimack 02 Yea
Wiley, Robert Republican Rockingham 05 Yea
Williams, Burton Republican Grafton 08 Yea
Williams, Robert Democrat Merrimack 11 Yea
Winchell, George Republican Rockingham 06 Yea
Zolla, William Republican Rockingham 05 Yea