Selenium, a chemical commonly found in wastewater from mountaintop removal coal mines and in coal ash ponds, is toxic to fish and other wildlife at very low levels, andis toxic to humans at high levels. Once in streams and lakes, selenium enters the food chain and accumulates in fish, causing reproductive failure and deformities.

The EPA has proposed changing the chronic standard so that it relies not on direct measurements of selenium in water, but also on measurements of selenium directly in fish. The method of enforcement will not identify problems until extensive damage has already been done. It will also make it difficult to identify which mine is responsible for the pollution in streams where multiple mines are present. Finally, it will make citizen monitoring and enforcement more difficult.

Tell the EPA to fully protect aquatic life and make sure the selenium standard is enforceable.