$2.50 25,000 Blue Chip Readers VOL. 42, NO. 14 An Independent Journal of Commentary AUGUST 10, 2010 Threat To Oklahoma Water? Mercury Alley By Arnold Hamilton In the once pristine waters of at Finally, three of the nation’s five least 16 Oklahoma lakes, an invisible worst mercury emitters, according to enemy lurks. the Environmental Integrity Project, Mercury levels in some fish in the are in east Texas, within 150 miles of reservoirs have reached unacceptably southeastern Oklahoma and almost high levels, prompting warnings the due south of the Oklahoma lakes fish shouldn’t be consumed, espe- with the consistently highest levels of cially by children and women of child- mercury in fish – Atoka Lake, Broken bearing age. Bow Lake, Coalgate City Lake, Hugo The problem is particularly acute in Lake, McAlester City Lake, McGee the state’s southeast quadrant where Creek Reservoir, Pine Creek Reser- tests turned up consistently high- voir, Sardis Lake and Wister Lake. er mercury concentrations in fish The Environmental Protection Agen- – disconcerting given the proximity of cy warns that mercury exposure can those lakes to coal-fired power plants result in loss of fine motor skills and in Texas and Oklahoma. peripheral vision; impaired speech, The disturbing Oklahoma Depart- hearing and walking; skin rashes, ment of Environmental Quality report mood swings and memory loss. briefly attracted front-page attention Experts say the health problems last month in some parts of the state, typically depend on how much mer- but it warrants serious, long-term cury has entered the body, length of statewide public discussion about exposure, how it entered the body and what could be an emerging public how the body responds to it. Most health hazard. often, people are put at risk because It is especially critical given that the they consume mercury-contaminated key to Oklahoma’s future growth and fish or are exposed to spilled mercu- prosperity is abundant, quality water ry. – a resource that could be threatened Though the recent state study found more by human-generated pollution higher levels of mercury in fish in the than north Texas’ insatiable thirst for southeastern Oklahoma lakes that new water supplies. were tested, consumption advisories Unfortunately, history is replete among other sources. State experts, ing plants to install scrubbers and were issued for seven other lakes – in- with cases where government lead- however, say they haven’t identified other pollution-reducing technology cluding three [Elmer Thomas Lake, ers were sluggish in responding to any areas with abnormally high rates – strengthening standards that were Quanah Parker Lake and Rush Lake] evidence that human activity was re- of naturally-occuring mercury. loosened under President George W. in southwestern Oklahoma that are sponsible for spreading toxins that Most mercury in the atmosphere is Bush. almost due north of another Texas put public health at risk. the result of human activity, particu- Though state environmental and coal-fired plant, the Oklaunion. Tar Creek, anyone? larly coal-fired power plants – which health officials say it’s too early to And three other lakes on the adviso- State and federal experts caution can be regulated to reduce health know with certainty what is causing ry list – Boomer Lake, Kaw Reservoir that some mercury – about a third to a risks. mercury levels to rise, it is indisput- and Lake Heyburn – all are in close half, depending on the study – is emit- Indeed, the Obama Administration able the nine southeastern Oklahoma proximity to northern Oklahoma’s ted to the atmosphere naturally, via recently proposed new air-quality lakes that were tested – and showed Sooner coal-fired plant. volcanoes and forest and range fires, rules that would require coal-burn- the state’s highest levels of mercury Perhaps it is just coincidental. Per- in fish – are located between a series haps more extensive study – includ- of Oklahoma coal-fired power plants ing analysis of more lakes – will point to the north and Texas plants to the to other culprits. Or perhaps the mer- south. cury levels in the 16 lakes placed on Moreover, climatological data re- the consumption advisory will turn flects that the prevailing winds in the out to be anomalies. region are directly from the south After all, the study found low mer- most of the year and mostly from the cury levels in fish tested in other state north the rest of the year, putting the lakes near coal-fired plants – and ex- lakes in the path of plant-generated perts note that water quality is a key pollution that might best be described determinant in the rate of mercury’s as Mercury Alley. Heavier rainfall in conversion to methylmercury, regard- the region also could exacerbate the ed as one of the most toxic forms of problem. See MERCURY Page 19 Observations Bad Bills We have been asked on numerous suicide at 11 years of age due to bul- occasions: “Where do these crackpot lying at school. ideas come from in the Legislature?” Oklahoma adopted the first anti- One of the prime sources is an out- bullying statute in the nation but that fit known as the American Legislative was years ago and the issue needs Exchange Council [ALEC]. Funders to be addressed anew. Bullying often include Koch Industries, ExxonMobil takes the form of threats on the In- and Peabody Energy. ternet. ALEC constantly wines and dines Kids today are living in a society of legislators of both political parties, extreme violence so for some bullying slipping them copies of “suggested comes naturally. They are a tiny mi- legislation.” They also put their mon- nority of students but even one in a ey where their special interest is. school is one too many. They move in lockstep with the The issue is especially tragic in the Heartland Institute, the Heritage early grades. Most teachers haven’t Foundation, CATO Institute and simi- been trained to recognize the symp- lar ilk. toms but that’s about to change. Suppose you are a legislator and an Thanks to McDaniel’s interim study, ture that entices business. $200,000 or more. official of the State Chamber asks if the new Speaker of the House, Rep. Oklahoma ranks 41st in the qual- Today we’re offering graduates you’d like to go to Las Vegas to study Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, said new anti- ity of life for only one reason – good $25,000 a year for four years if they oil and gas interests. bullying legislation would be a top schools, good public transit and af- practice in a rural community. We ALEC’s Natural Resources Task priority, including teacher training. fordable higher education. need to double that. Force [currently chaired by the Ameri- Parents also need training to rec- Maybe the next governor will finally Right now the College of Osteopath- can Gas Association] comes up with ognize symptoms because a lot of listen. Outgoing Gov. Brad Henry was ic Medicine in Tulsa has 115 slots per suggested legislation favorable to the youngsters don’t want to admit they busy signing more than $700 million graduation but only enough money industry. are victims – they don’t want to look in tax cuts and cutting tax rates. In ef- for 92. They have swayed more than a few like wimps. fect, cutting our economic throats. Thanks to the OSU Center for Health legislators that climate change is a Any new legislation should crack We need to remind those willing to Sciences, six clinics are operated in hoax – despite solid science to the down hard on those who bully. All too listen that the Tax Foundation lists Tulsa, treating more than 125,000 contrary. often they end up wreaking domestic Oklahoma as 50th in combined local, patients a years – many of them indi- Ignorant legislators sign on as au- violence on their spouses and chil- state and federal taxes. gent. The financial shortfall last year thors of the bills that ALEC or its dren. When you hear a candidates talking was $3 million. principals author, always tailored to about tax cuts, remember that candi- Osteopathic physicians are our the local or state situation. date is about ruining our children’s front line for family practice. Some- For years we’ve tried to point out Where We Rank future. body needs to drill that into the wee the schemes ALEC devise, then suck- small brains of what passes for legis- er in our legislators – especially Re- Good news for a change: Oklahoma lative leadership today. publicans. ranks 25th for being business-friend- Brandon Again Ask legislators who seek your vote ly, third lowest in cost of living and to avoid falling for the ALEC ruse No. 3 in cost of doing business. How many times have we had to cor- Economic Idiots – which usually ends up slamming That’s according to the Business rect the misstatement of facts in the taxpayers. Roundtable’s annual report but it propaganda newsletter of the Oklaho- How many times have you heard it A former head of ALEC put it in doesn’t come as a surprise to those ma Council of Public Affairs? We have – the worst recession since the Great perspective when he said, “Take the paying attention to the strides Okla- lost count. Depression. And the irony is that countryside and the capital will fall.” homa is yet to make. Now along comes mouthpiece Bran- George W. Bush not only inherited a Our problem is education – on that don Dutcher with the flat statement surplus, Bill Clinton paid down the index we rank 40th but, in fact, we’re that the Tax Foundation ranks Okla- national debt.