{"id":24028,"date":"2013-02-12T10:27:54","date_gmt":"2013-02-12T16:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/?p=24028"},"modified":"2013-02-12T10:28:20","modified_gmt":"2013-02-12T16:28:20","slug":"why-one-lawmaker-wants-texas-lakes-to-post-mercury-warnings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2013\/02\/12\/why-one-lawmaker-wants-texas-lakes-to-post-mercury-warnings\/","title":{"rendered":"Why One Lawmaker Wants Texas Lakes to Post Mercury Warnings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by PAUL J. RICHARDS\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>

A fisherman walks from his fishing spot at the Tonkawa Falls area 10 January 2004 in Crawford, Texas. A new bill would require lakes with mercury contamination to post warning signs to fishermen.<\/p><\/div>\n

Many of Texas\u2019 lakes and bays have become contaminated with mercury<\/a>, which has, in turn, contaminated the consumable fish living in them, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department<\/a> (TPWD). Now one lawmaker has filed a bill<\/a>, HB 993,\u00a0that would help notify people of mercury problems in state waters.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now there aren\u2019t any signs at lakes with mercury contamination,\u201d said Lucia Mendez, assistant committee clerk for the House Committee on Culture, Tourism and Recreation.<\/a> She assisted in writing the bill.<\/p>\n

Rep. Ryan Guillen<\/a>,\u00a0D-Rio Grande City, has filed a bill that will require, when financially possible, state agencies with authority over water bodies holding contaminated fish to post signage that warns fisherman of possible mercury contamination in fish and shellfish.<\/p>\n

The state agency in charge of the individual lake could also provide a warning on their website and make educational materials detailing the risk. Advisories would be updated once a year by the Department of State Health Services.<\/p>\n

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