Wet scrubbers, a form of air pollution control equipment, use water to catch toxins and remove them from the smokestack before they are released as air pollution. The product of this technology is a concentrated toxic liquid that must be disposed of either in lagoons or landfills. Pollution from coal-fired power plants contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals including mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, and selenium - all of which can be harmful to human health in high doses. Release of these chemicals into nearby ecosystems can allow them to collect in the food web through bio-accumulation, making them a threat up the food chain (human consumption of fish, etc).
 
The Dickerson station will be getting a revised water pollution permit soon, and there is opportunity for meaningful public participation.  It makes a big impact on Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), our state environmental agency, to hear from community members and to know that they are invested in a strong permit to protect their community and environment.

Please sign the petition to Governor O'Malley, asking him to direct MDE to strengthen the permitting requirements for coal plants.