To the Editor:
Richard Mason’s opinion column in the Sunday, Oct. 15, newspaper was essentially correct as to most of the facts pertaining to mercury, natural gas and coal. However, he erred when he said “a good start would be to convert the dirty coal and lignite burning electrical generating plants in Arkansas and Texas into clean burning natural gas fired plants. Then our mercury in fish problem would begin to slowly disappear.”
It would be a good start, but it would not disappear. If the sole, or predominate, source of mercury found in the Felsenthal area were airborne, (and generated upwind in Arkansas and Texas) then why is it not of the same magnitude of problem in the Ouachita and Saline Rivers above Felsenthal and other water bodies in the area? The answer is of course obvious. The problem has an additional source. In my opinion, the origin is shallow deposits of lignite upstream or within Felsenthal. Mr. Mason has already indicated his awareness of airborne lignite combustion byproduct as a substantial source of mercury. Unfortunately, the problem will not go away (although it would diminish) if only airborne pollution is addressed.
Emon A. Mahony Jr.
El Dorado