Overview of MDEQ s s Mercury Strategy. September 25, 2008 Jack Schinderle WHMD

Transcription

1 Overview of MDEQ s s Mercury Strategy September 25, 2008 Jack Schinderle WHMD

2 Director 1/06 memo w/ recommendation and charge to develop consistent priorities and goals related to Hg policies, regs, legislation, monitoring sources & outreach efforts that pursue the overall goal of virtually eliminating anthropogenic Hg use and releases Background

3 Workgroup Members: Joy Taylor Morgan, AQD Co-Chair Steve Kratzer, ESSD Co-Chair Patty Brandt, RRD Matthew Flechter & Jack Schinderle, WHMD Matthew Staron, WB Leah Granke and Maggie Sadoff,AQD Brendan Boyle, MDCH Support Staff: Mary Ann Halbeisen and Sheila Blais, AQD

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5 Mercury Strategy Report Overview of the Issue Estimate of sources Outlines regulations and policies Summary of activities implemented Discusses controls and remedial technologies Now with Chapter 12

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7 MERCURY CYCLE IN THE BIOSPHERE Hg 0, Hg 2+, Hg(p) Hg 0 Hg 0 Hg 0 Hg0 +O 3 Hg 2+ Hg 0 Hg 2+ Hg 0 +? Hg 0 Hg 2+ (CH 3 ) 2 Hg Hg 2+,Hg(p) CH 3 Hg +

8 GLOBAL ANTHROPOGENIC HG RELEASES ~ 5 MILLION LBS/YR U.S. ANTHROPOGENIC HG EMISSIONS ~ MILLION LBS/YR ALL KNOWN MICHIGAN HG RELEASES* AIR ~ 7,000 LBS/YR SURFACE WATER ~ 490 LBS/YR LAND (WASTE) ~ 2,090 LBS/YR** * ALL MICHIGAN VALUES REPRESENT 2002 BASELINE. **TOTAL INCLUDES ON-SITE LAND DISPOSAL/RELEASES OF 1,420 LBS/YR AND OFF-SITE TRANSFERS WITHIN MICHIGAN OF 670 LBS/YR.

9 2002 Hg Emissions Inventory for Michigan Contaminated Site Cremation 2% Remediation 1% Other 2% Solid w aste collection & processing 12% Landfill volatilization 1% Disposal of products in burn barrels 2% Coal Combustion 37% Hg-Containing Products 6% Grey Iron Cupolas 3% EAFs & EIFs in Steel Foundries 4% Blast/BOF Steel Manufacturing 5% Lime Manufacturing 1% Taconite processing 1% Cement Manufacturing 10% Oil Combustion 1% Na tura l Ga s Com bustion 5% Biosolids Incineration 4% Municipal Waste Incineration 1%

10 History 1993 MESB Recommendations 1993 MI Hg Action Plan 1996 MI Hg P2 Task Force 2002 MI Hg Action Plan Progress Report 2005 Compendium of States Hg Activities

11 Set Goals GOAL 1 Baseline Development: Identify all mercury use and releases in the state of Michigan; develop a defined baseline to measure mercury releases to all media including air, water, and land; and utilize this baseline to measure reduction progress. GOAL 2 - Elimination/Reduction Activities: Eliminate mercury use and anthropogenic releases to the environment in Michigan through various approaches (using defined baseline data) in order to meet designated water uses in the state including fish consumption. GOAL 3 Measuring Success: Create a mechanism to measure progress toward the goal of elimination of anthropogenic mercury use and releases to the environment in Michigan.

12 Interim Goals Reduce mercury use and releases in the state 50% by 2010 Reduce mercury use and releases in the state by 90% by 2015

13 U.S. Mercury Emissions tons est 2006 Challenge Other Lighting Dental Measure & Control Electrical Chlor-Alkali Source: USGS, Minerals Yearbook, 1996, Chlorine Institute Annual Report to EPA, 2004; National Electrical Manufacturer s Association, direct communication, 2004.

14 U.S. Mercury Use tons Challenge Utility Boilers Medical Incin. Municipal Incin. Industrial Boilers Chlor-alkali Gold Mining Other Challenge Source: EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards

15 Top Overall environmental release (quantity of release or impact to media) 2. Public health risks 3. Efforts currently underway by international, national, state, local and other organizations 4. Available substitutes for mercury-added products

16 Top Develop, maintain and track a reliable baseline for measuring success 2. Reduce coal-fired utility releases 3. Reduce portland cement plant releases 4. Continue to phase out Hg-added products where alternatives exist 5. Ensure there are sufficient funds to clean-up legacy sites and groundwater contamination

17 Top Expand education & outreach to the public & MDEQ staff on exposure of Hg, spill clean-up, control technologies 7. Expand the network to collect and manage Hg-containing products (including CFLs) 8. Develop a mechanism to ensure that Hg generated or collected in MI is not released back into the environment 9. Utilize the 5M approach under Clean Water Act to satisfy mercury TMDL development requirements using the strategy as a tool for implementation 10. Continue national coordination w/ QSC and assist in the development of a regional Hg emission reduction initiative similar to the Great Lakes Governor s Hg Product Phase Down Strategy

18 Other Recommendations Recommend to municipalities with mercury minimization programs that they require certified dental amalgam separators or equivalent technology as approved by the MDEQ by For dental offices using septic systems, require the use of dedicated isolated holding tanks for dental mercury amalgam waste by Additionally, dental practices should be required to use Best Management Practices for dental amalgam management which includes proper operation and maintenance of this equipment, as well as provisions requiring waste manifest tracking of dental amalgam waste. Require all dental practices in Michigan that place or remove mercury amalgam fillings to install dental amalgam separators or equivalent technology as approved by the MDEQ by Additionally, dental practices should be required to use Best Management Practices for dental amalgam management which includes proper operation and maintenance of this equipment, as well as provisions requiring waste manifest tracking of dental amalgam waste.

19 Questions?