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Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy
Stakeholder Forum - November 16,
1998
Mercury Reduction Activities Reported from Around the Great
Lakes
The following document describes a diverse array of activities that have been
undertaken by local, industrial, non-profit, Tribal, First Nation, State, Provincial, or
Federal entities in the Great Lakes Basin and which are responsive to the goals and
objectives of the Binational Toxics Strategy (BNS). The activities represented here were
not necessarily initiated as a result of the BNS, and may have started while the BNS was
still in the development stage. These activities were first described in Section III
of the Final Draft 1998 Progress Report of the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy
(November 16, 1998).
The majority of activity reports included for the U.S. were submitted by a
wide variety of stakeholders in response to a July 27, 1998 letter sent by David A.
Ullrich, Acting U.S. National Program Manager for the Great Lakes. The letter solicited
descriptions of activities being undertaken that support the Binational Strategy. In
Canada, the activities represent a wide variety of activities that may have been developed
to fulfill National programs or Canada-Ontario Agreement goals, but which are responsive
to the goals of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement as a whole, and therefore are
linked to meeting the challenges of the BNS.
The USEPA and EC make no assurance of the
accuracy of these summaries. Please call the contacts, where listed below, for more
information on individual projects.
Atmospheric Deposition: Characterization of Deposition of Toxic Pollutants to the
Great Lakes
This project is being undertaken as part of the continuing efforts of the International
Air Quality Advisory Board (IAQAB), under the direction of the International Joint
Commission, to characterize the sources and amounts of atmospherically deposited toxic
pollution to the Great Lakes. Of particular interest are the contaminants identified in
the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy. This particular project has five components
for each pollutant investigated:
- the collection and evaluation of available U.S. and Canadian
emissions inventory information;
- the development of transfer coefficients, using an
atmospheric transport and dispersion model, which characterize the contribution to Great
Lakes deposition arising from unit emissions from each potentially relevant source region;
- the combination of the emissions inventories with the
transfer coefficients to estimate the ambient concentrations and deposition fluxes to the
Great Lakes;
- evaluation of the overall results by comparison against
measurements of ambient concentration and deposition fluxes; and
- the use of the modeling results -- if the above evaluation
shows that they may be reasonably valid -- to characterize the relative importance of
different emission sources and source regions to Great Lakes deposition.
Pollution Prevention Initiatives Launched in Ontario Hospitals
The Mercury Pollution Prevention in the Health Care Sector Workshop took place in April
of 1996 and was attended by 60 representatives from health care associations, hospitals,
government, and suppliers of health care products. This workshop examined the effects of
mercury on human health, presented examples of mercury pollution prevention case studies,
and reviewed some alternatives to mercury-containing products/devices. The Health Care
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to voluntarily reduce and eliminate the use of mercury
in hospitals was signed at this workshop by: Centenary Health Centre; Hospital for Sick
Children; The Toronto Hospital; Environment Canada; Ontario Ministry of Environment and
Energy; the Health Care Environment Network (HCEN); and Pollution Probe. Each of the
current hospital signatories developed their own strategy and policy for reducing and
eliminating mercury.
The MOU signatories and other hospitals have formed the Ontario Mercury Health Care
Steering Committee to encourage information sharing and to promote the elimination and
reduction of mercury-containing products in the health care sector. Since the original
signing of the MOU, it has been expanded to encourage hospitals across Ontario to sign on.
Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital and North York General Hospital have since signed the
MOU, and several additional hospitals have indicated that they will also be signing on.
Hospitals in Ontario, together with Pollution Probe, recognized the need to develop cost
information on mercury-free products to assist with the process of reducing mercury use.
The Mercury in the Health Care Sector: the Cost of Alternative Products report, funded by
Environment Canada, compares the costs of some commonly-used mercury-containing equipment
with mercury-free alternatives and outlines some of the hidden training, disposal,
administrative, health, and environmental costs associated with the use of mercury
containing products. Several hospitals have recently reported progress in achieving
significant reductions of mercury in their respective operations. For example, all three
of the major hospital signatories (Toronto Hospital, Hospital for Sick Children, North
York General Hospital) have reported significant reductions through:
- the complete replacement of all fluorescent lamps with new
low-mercury lamp types;
- the elimination of mercury-containing laboratory chemicals;
- the replacement of blood pressure monitors with alternative
types; and
- the elimination of mercury-containing batteries.
Wisconsin Communities Initiate Mercury Reduction Projects
Mercury releases to municipal sanitary sewer systems by hospitals, dental offices,
schools, universities, laboratories, other facilities, and homes are largely unregulated.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is working with seven communities to develop
and implement mercury reduction programs targeted to these diverse wastewater sources. The
programs are designed to educate the population about the impacts of and alternatives to
mercury use, collect mercury and mercury products, and provide information about and/or
coordinate transporting the mercury to a contractor for recycling.
Contact: Kristin Churchill, Wisconsin DNR, (608) 267-7603
Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Launches Statewide Mercury
Awareness Program
IDEM's Mercury Awareness Program is a state and local partnership dedicated to
"investigating and identifying commercial uses of mercury, researching potential
pollution prevention options, and developing and implementing outreach strategies for
significant sources." Beginning in October 1998, IDEM will initiate a state-wide
effort to collect and recycle household items containing mercury. The effort will be led
by the Regional Household Hazardous Waste Task Force, a consortium of 35 southern Indiana
solid waste management districts, and will involve other solid waste management districts
and communities.
Contact: Paula Smith, IDEM, (317) 233-6663
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection P3ERIE Program
P3ERIE is a voluntary pollution prevention program composed of DEP, businesses, civic
organizations, and educational institutions in the greater Erie community. Their mission
is "to build support for pollution prevention by developing and implementing a public
education campaign and practical projects to reduce the amount of mercury and other
persistent toxins that are used and released to the environment in the greater Erie
community, especially the Lake Erie watershed." To date, P3ERIE has accomplished the
following:
- collected 1,245 pounds of elemental mercury during a 1998
Earth Day event;
- distributed 9,000 brochures regarding mercury pollution
prevention;
- worked to encourage northwest Pennsylvania's largest
hospital, Hamot Medical Center, to become mercury-free;
- conducted energy efficiency workshops at the Northwest
Pennsylvania Manufacturer's Association; and
- implemented an active pollution prevention program for
school laboratories.
Contact: Edward F. Orris, Project Manager, Office of Pollution
Prevention and Compliance Assistance, PDEP, (814) 332-6075
Blueprint for Mercury Elimination
With support from the Great Lakes Protection Fund, the Western Lake Superior Sanitary
District (WLSSD) has conducted a Mercury Zero Discharge Project to identify and eliminate
sources of mercury to its wastewater treatment plant. The results of the project have been
compiled in a Blueprint for Mercury Elimination, designed for use by other wastewater
treatment plants in developing and implementing their own mercury reduction programs. It
includes information on sources of mercury, successful reduction strategies and case
studies, and suggestions for implementing a program. As a result of this project, WLSSD
initiated or strengthened pollution prevention partnerships with industries, educational
facilities, hospitals, and dentists in its service area and demonstrated that significant
mercury reductions in municipal wastewater discharges can be achieved through cooperative
partnerships with industry, public education, and disposal facilities.
To date, the Blueprint for Mercury Elimination has been disseminated to over 800
wastewater treatment plants throughout the Great Lake States and Canada. In addition, over
1200 Blueprints have been sent to pretreatment coordinators, government units,
environmental agencies and other interested parties throughout the Great Lake States,
Canada, and the rest of the United States. The work begun under the Mercury Zero Discharge
Project continues with support from the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office.
Contact: Tim Tuominen, Pollution Prevention Chemist, WLSSD,
(218) 722-3336
Community Mercury Reduction Project
As part of the Lake Superior Alliance Sustainable Basin Project, the Central Upper
Peninsula Sierra Club was awarded a grant to develop a Community Mercury Reduction
Project. Through this grant, the Marquette Community Mercury Reduction Task Force was
formed. The Task Force developed recommendations related to: sampling; public education;
outreach; ordinances; small businesses; and its own continued efforts. In June 1998, the
Marquette Area Wastewater Treatment Facility submitted a grant to EPA Region 5 requesting
support to implement the Task Force's efforts to achieve a regional mercury mass balance,
continue education and outreach, and implement community mercury reduction activities. The
project is designed to be transferrable to other communities in the Great Lakes Basin.
Contact: Curt Goodman, Assistant Superintendent, W/WWTP, City of
Marquette, MI, (906) 228-0485
Mercury Information Sheet
Greenpeace Native Lands Campaign and the Indigenous Environmental Network collaborate
on several environmental issues. Together, they have produced an information sheet on
mercury contamination, its sources and effects.
Mercury and PCBs: Ojibwa Health Study
Ojibwa Health Study investigators are researching the effects of mercury and PCBs on
human health. For this study, walleye are being harvested from various lakes by the Great
Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. As well, lake trout and whitefish are being
collected from Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior by the InterTribal Fisheries
Assessment Program. Fish collected for the study are sent to the University of
Wisconsin-Superior to be analyzed for environmental contaminants.
Michigan Mercury Pollution Prevention (M2P2) Task Force
The M2P2 Task Force was convened in August 1994 and, since that time, has been active
in numerous mercury pollution prevention efforts across Michigan. A few of the Task
Force's efforts include:
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has
funded a household hazardous waste collection program in 22 counties across Michigan—approximately
200 pounds of mercury have been collected;
- the M2P2 Task Force's Automobile Subgroup identified 23 uses
of mercury in automobiles;
- approximately 16,000 hard copies and 33 electronic copies of
the "Merc Concern" brochure have been distributed state-wide;
- a Mercury Pollution Prevention Home Page (accessible from
the MDEQ Environmental Assessment Division Pollution Prevention Section Home Page) has
been developed; and
- outreach materials describing mercury threats and disposal
options have been distributed to science teachers.
As part of M2P2, MDEQ, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan Farm Bureau,
Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Independent
Cooperative Milk Producers Association, and Michigan State University also collaborated on
a dairy farm mercury manometer collection pilot project from two counties. Within the two
counties, a total of 16 of 18 manometers were replaced; 12 pounds of mercury were
collected for disposal.
Contact: Joy K. Taylor, Air Quality Division, Toxics Unit,
(517) 335-6974
Mercury Indicators Projects
In order to evaluate progress towards the zero discharge goal in the Lake Superior
basin, baseline information is needed on indicators of releases of the nine designated
chemicals. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is working on two projects to 1)
establish a baseline for five mercury indicators and 2) encourage the use of low mercury
feedstock chemicals, such as caustic soda. Currently, wastewater treatment plants in the
Minnesota portion of the basin have agreed to collect sludge samples, which the MPCA will
analyze for mercury. The other indicators will be investigated after the sludge monitoring
is finished. The feedstock chemicals project includes the compilation of a list of
licensed boiler operators, who would be expected to use caustic soda. The agency is also
investigating the availability of different grades of caustic soda in the upper Midwest.
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) PCB/Mercury Minimization Program
Consistent with its ongoing efforts to work with its customers to pilot pollution
prevention programs, the DWSD has undertaken a number of special programs to effectively
control mercury in hospitals, dental practices, industrial laundries, laboratories, and
households. DWSD has initiated an Atmospheric Deposition Study, made revisions to its
Local Limits Ordinance, and established an Education/Outreach Program for the general
public. The program helps identify current uses of mercury, identify and encourage use of
mercury-free alternatives, explore ways to reduce mercury use, coordinate and/or encourage
proper disposal practices, and evaluate the effectiveness of voluntary activities to date.
In one project under this program, the DWSD developed and coordinated a six-month Bulk
Mercury Collection Program in cooperation with the Michigan Dental Association, the
National Wildlife Federation, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and the
U.S. EPA. More than 400 dentists took advantage of the program, contributing about 1,350
pounds of raw mercury.
Contact: Beverly Ingram, DWSD, (313) 964-9390
Mercury Reduction Project for the Greater Milwaukee Area
This project is a joint effort of the Pollution Prevention Partnership, Milwaukee
Metropolitan Sewerage District, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The project
has already produced a Mercury Source Sector Assessment Report to help identify important
"source sectors," to set priorities for developing cooperative mercury
education, technical assistance, and collection programs, and to develop an effective
mercury reduction program.
Minnesota Mercury Reduction Initiative Underway
The MPCA is working with a group of Minnesota stakeholders in the development of a
comprehensive mercury reduction strategy. The stakeholders are involved through an
advisory council which will provide recommendations to the state government on mercury
reduction options. Teams of staff and stakeholders are working on reduction strategies and
the criteria by which to rank them. The agency will use the council's advice as one source
of information when considering a mercury reduction initiative. The MPCA may develop
regulations or recommend legislation as a result.
WLSSD Undertakes Amalgam Recycling Initiative
Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) in cooperation with the Northeast
District Dental Society has developed recycling procedures for materials containing
amalgam particles. Amalgam contains mercury which, if disposed of in solid or medical
waste or rinsed to the sewer, could be released to the environment. The first annual
amalgam recycling report showed that approximately 522 pounds of waste material containing
amalgam was collected for recycling. Eighty eight percent of dental practices responded to
the survey conducted by the WLSSD. The Minnesota Dental Association also supports amalgam
recycling.
Contact: Tim Tuominen, Pollution Prevention Chemist, WLSSD,
(218) 722-3336
WLSSD Mercury Zero Discharge Pilot Project
Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD), the largest wastewater treatment
facility discharging to the Lake Superior watershed, is supporting the goal of zero
discharge of persistent bioaccumulative toxics by developing a multimedia mercury zero
discharge pilot project with hospitals, clinics, educational institutions, laboratories,
and dental practices. WLSSD hopes this program will not only test the theory that
prevention at the source is more cost-effective than end-of-pipe treatment, but will also
ultimately result in the virtual elimination of mercury discharges from these specific
business types. In some instances reduced discharge through recycling, on-site treatment,
or better management practices may be an interim goal. The specific activities will
include documentation of the sources of mercury for the specific business types.
Contact: Tim Tuominen, Pollution Prevention Chemist, WLSSD,
(218) 722-3336
Bell Atlantic Mercury Collection Project
Bell Atlantic, a provider of telecommunication services, has instituted a project to
collect all mercury relays and switches from old telecommunication equipment. The effort
is ongoing with no expected end date. The collected electrical devices are sent to a
mercury smelter that safely separates the mercury from the metal casings. On an annual
basis, Bell Atlantic collects more than 50,000 pounds of switches and relays containing
mercury.
Contact: Harlan Pincus, (212) 338-6605
Battery Industry
In 1984 and 1985, the battery industry accounted for approximately 55% of the total
United States consumption of mercury, according to the U.S. Bureau of Mines. Industry-wide
initiatives have been taken to decrease the presence of mercury in batteries and battery
related mercury contributions to municipal solid waste. New technologies have been
introduced which control gassing (which can lead to leakage and possible ruptures) in
batteries without the use of mercury. These technologies include: (1) removing or
decreasing impurities which cause gassing; (2) using other formulations to suppress gasses
and; (3) redesigning the batteries to allow gases to escape at faster rates.
Mercury batteries, which use mercuric oxide as an electrode material, have been
replaced by alternatives, such as zinc air batteries, except for a few non-household
specialty uses. When alternatives are not available, battery manufacturers provide
information so that the battery user can send the used batteries to a properly licensed
collection site for recycling or proper disposal. As a result of these initiatives, the
battery industry reports that the United States battery industry's 1994 consumption of
mercury was 99.41% less than its 1984 consumption rate (29,700 flasks in 1984, one flask =
76 pounds, to 174 flasks in 1994.) During this same time period, annual sales of alkaline
batteries in the United States increased 150%.
Wisconsin Sponsors Mercury Manometer Replacement Program
Beginning in the Fall of 1998, WI Department of Natural Resources, the University of
Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin Extension Program will replace
mercury-containing manometers to Wisconsin farmers in the Great Lakes basin. This program
is funded by a grant from the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office and is
patterned after a similar program in Minnesota.
Contact: Kristin Churchill, Wisconsin DNR, (608) 267-7603
In December 1997, the Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) launched a program to
recycle mercury-switch thermostats in nine states, including Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota,
Ohio, and Wisconsin. The TRC is a private corporation established by thermostat
manufacturers, Honeywell, General Electric, and White-Rodgers. Under the program, heating
and cooling contractors can drop off old mercury-switch thermostats at participating
wholesalers. The wholesalers will collect the thermostats in protective bins provided by
TRC and send them to TRC's recycling center where the switches will be removed and
forwarded to a mercury recycler. TRC reports that it has processed 120 pounds of mercury
in the program's first nine months, much of which comes from Great Lakes states. The TRC
also announced plans to expand the program to 13 east-coast states and DC as soon as it
obtains the necessary regulatory approvals.
Contact: Ric Erdheim, Acting Executive Director, TRC,
(703) 841-3249
Thermostat Recycling in Wisconsin
Wisconsin DNR is partnering with electric utilities through the Thermostat Recycling
Corporation (TRC), community clean sweeps, household hazardous waste collection
facilities, and other means to promote recycling and replacement of mercury-switch
thermostats. Two of the state's six major utilities have included promotional materials
with customer bills and/or on their web sites. TRC reports that, since November 1997, 932
thermostats have been collected; 69 recycling bins have been issued; and 9.7 pounds of
mercury have been reclaimed.
Contact: Kristin Churchill, Wisconsin DNR, (608) 267-7603
Lighting Industry Pushes for Design and Manufacturing Advances
The lighting industry has made significant investments in manufacturing process and new
lamp designs to continue to drive down mercury content in lamps. These investments have
reportedly reduced the average mercury content of a four foot lamp from 48.2 mg in 1985 to
22.8 mg in 1994. The lamp industry expects to drive mercury content below 12 mg/lamp by
the year 2000.
Contact: National Electric Manufacturers Association,
(703) 841-3200
Automobile Pollution Prevention Project
Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, and the American
Automobile Manufacturers Association joined forces in 1991 to form the US Automotive
Pollution Prevention Project (or, Auto Project). The project began as a partnership, with
the U.S. EPA (Great Lakes National Program Office) funding the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) to launch the project. Now, the auto industry itself is
leading the project and making great progress in reducing pollution at the source.
The focus of the project is a group of "Great Lakes Persistent Toxic
Substances" (GLPTSs), including Mercury and PCBs. After the first four years, the
project has expanded from a concentration on the Great Lakes to a national effort. A
similar effort was launched in Canada in 1992. Ford Motor Company, for example, continues
on the path to global phase-out of PCB containing transformers. The results of their
efforts were tabulated in 1996, discovering 26% of all PCB transformers had been removed.
An integral part of this ongoing effort is the 70 pollution prevention case studies
(not all of which pertain to BNS substances) that have been developed by the auto
companies. The case studies are available at:
http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-ead-p2-auto-autoprojectbrochure.pdf
The American Automobile Manufacturers Association will track emissions of both
Binational Toxic Strategy Level I and Level II substances through the U.S. Auto Pollution
Prevention Project. EPA Region 5 remains strongly involved through the Auto Project
Advisory Group (APAG) which also includes representatives from trade associations, higher
education, technology centers, public interest groups, a foundation, and state
governments.
"This provides an example of how a flexible and cooperative industry partnership
can reconcile and achieve mutual environmental and economic needs in a globally
competitive marketplace."
General Motors Corporation
Using environmentally conscious design and manufacturing principles, General Motors
Midsize & Luxury Car Group (MLCG) facilities replaced mercury switches with ball-type
switches used in underhood lamp activation in their 1998 Cadillac and Buick models. The
company reports that this change resulted in an estimated elimination of 1,500 pounds of
mercury a year from underhood switches. It has been estimated that the mercury contained
in underhood and trunk lamp switches accounts for 87% of mercury usage in automotive
applications. This amounts to 12.2 million mercury switches containing a total of 8.5
metric tons of mercury per year. MLCG has already eliminated all mercury switches in the
trunk lamp activation and replaced these with trunk-ajar switches.
Chrysler Corporation
Chrysler Corporation instituted a project to modify product specifications to:
eliminate mercury from equipment; decommission mercury-containing equipment; and evaluate
the alternative for blood pressure measurement equipment. The project has resulted in
mercury being removed from 20 engineering equipment specifications. The company reports
that 1000 pounds of decommissioned mercury were collected in the first year. Mercury-free
alternatives to sphygmomanometers were also identified.
Chrysler has participated in discussions with the Michigan Mercury Pollution Prevention
Task Force about mercury use within its facilities and products. The company had
discovered in 1995 that mercury is used in underhood switches of certain current models.
Chrysler has worked with the American Automobile Association to develop a common approach
to identify and remove the mercury switches.
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company reports that it has worked since 1995 to identify feasible
alternatives for all mercury switches in all models worldwide and to introduce
mercury-free designs in all identified applications as soon as practicable.
Consumers Energy Company Undertakes Mercury P2 Initiative
Consumers Energy Company, a Michigan electrical and gas energy and energy services
company, began a Mercury Pollution Prevention Initiative in 1996. Mercury is contained in
coal used in fuel and is used in plant equipment. The company took action to identify its
mercury sources, estimate the total quantity of mercury use, review existing disposal
practices, and investigate future management options and costs. The program has heightened
awareness of mercury concerns in the company and presented options for use of non-mercury
containing equipment. It has also reduced the use of equipment containing mercury and
associated stock inventory. In 1996, the program recorded a 231 pound reduction of
elemental liquid mercury; in 1997, an additional reduction of 171 pounds was reported.
Contact: Patrick Zombo, Consumers Energy, (517) 788-0647
Wisconsin Electric Surveys Mercury-Containing Equipment In Operating Power Plants
The company's Fossil Operations staff began a resurvey of equipment in its power plants
in May, 1998. The term resurvey is used because the company initiated a purge of mercury
containing equipment at its power plants more than 10 years ago and by 1994, the purge was
largely complete. A review of hazardous waste records from the early 1980's suggests that
several thousand pounds of mercury were collectively removed from these facilities.
The resurvey results compiled to date suggest that WE's major power plants contain low
amounts of mercury. It is suspected but not yet verified that WE's four power plants
constructed before the mid-1970's contain mercoid switches and thermometers, but little
else in the way of mercury-containing equipment. The four power plants constructed since
the mid-1970's (total megawatts installed-approximately 2,075 ) typically contain less
than one pound of elemental mercury per plant in a variety of switches and thermostats.
Contact: Dave Michaud, Wisconsin Electric, (414) 221-2187
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, an investor-owned electric and gas utility providing
energy to 1.5 million residential, commercial and industrial customers, is committed to
the virtual elimination of the use of mercury in its service territory and has established
a goal of replacing all mercury containing gas regulators. Since 1995, the company
reportedly has committed considerable resources to the elimination of mercury in its
systems. The company reports that it has reduced the number of mercury containing gas
regulators from approximately 37,500 to approximately 600. The company also reports that
it has achieved the U.S. BNS Challenge for Level I substances and that these results
surpass the 50 percent reduction target of the Binational Toxics Strategy in the
deliberate use of mercury.
Contact: A.Chris Read, Environmental Analyst, Niagara Mohawk,
(315) 428-3631
Electric Utility Industry
The amount of coal used by non-utility industry is being reduced through the further
electrification of industry throughout the country. Efficient electrical use opportunities
are matched and marketed to non-utility coal users to replace coal processes. For example,
many efficient electric arc furnaces have replaced basic oxygen furnaces in steel
manufacture. The industry estimates that a reduction of more than 15 tons of emitted
mercury for commercial and industrial boilers has already resulted.
Contact: Dennis Leonard, (313) 235-8714
DTE Energy/Detroit Edison Just-in-Time Arrangements
In response to a 1997 request by the state to reduce storage and eliminate the need for
mercury instruments that could be replaced cost-effectively with non-mercury instruments,
Detroit Edison, Michigan's largest electric utility, employed just-in-time arrangements
for instrumentation and mercury with a supplier. The project will end in December 1998.
One ton less mercury is now stored at Detroit Edison facilities.
Contact: Dennis Leonard, (313) 235-8714
Mercury and PCBs: American Electric Power
Since 1987, AEP has voluntarily removed PCBs from its transmission and distribution
equipment, including about 4,000 PCB-filled and mineral oil-filled transformers, 15,000
PCB substation capacitors, and 860 other PCB items. AEP's Project Good Turn encourages
customers in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan to turn in second, older working refrigerators
and freezers for recycling CFCs and scrap metal, incinerating PCB capacitors, and safe
disposal of mercury. AEP reports that it has already recycled more than 40,000 units
containing a total of more than 1,000 pounds of PCBs and 80 pounds of mercury.
Mercury and PCBs: Consumers Energy Company Launches Replacement Lighting Program
In 1996, Consumers Energy Company launched the "Bottom Line Solutions"
replacement lighting program for commercial and industrial customers. The program allows
customers to increase their business' lighting while reducing operating and future
disposal costs. The new fixtures have efficient, low-mercury lights and non-PCB ballasts.
Center for Clean Air Policy Launches Mercury Bank Project
The Center for Clean Air Policy announced in 1997 that it would participate in the
Minnesota Mercury Contamination Reduction Initiative (MCRI) effort to build support for
establishing a mercury bank in that state. The Center is slated to introduce the bank
option at the MCRI kick-off meeting in July and will be a key player in helping to shape
policy initiatives on the Advisory Council. The bank option is modeled after and improves
upon the greenhouse gas emission registry contained in section 1605(b) of the Energy
Policy Act of 1992. With mercury, a bank to reward early actions will help encourage early
reductions and focus attention on the problem. The Center will also form a workgroup
consisting of stakeholders and experts to design elements of a mercury bank. The MCRI is a
long-term, comprehensive process expected to result in the implementation of selected
policy options for controlling mercury in Minnesota.
Contact: Stacey Davis, Center for Clean Air Policy, (202) 408-9260
EPA, American Hospital Association Agree on Waste-Cutting
On June 25, 1998, EPA and the American Hospital Association (AHA) signed a memorandum
of understanding committing themselves to work together to significantly cut hospital
wastes by 2005. The agreement envisions the virtual elimination of mercury-containing
hospital wastes and a one-third reduction in total hospital wastes by 2005. Signing the
accord for EPA were Dr. William H. Sanders III, Director of EPA's Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, and David A. Ullrich, Acting Administrator of EPA's Region 5
Office. Chief Operating Officer Dr. Jonathan T. Lord signed for the AHA.
EPA and AHA intend to co-sponsor a series of national waste management seminars for
hospitals. EPA will also distribute as many as 300 copies of the software program,
"Mercury in Medical Facilities," developed with EPA assistance by Purdue
University. The agreement also covers: obtaining and reviewing industry information on
pollution prevention efforts; developing model plans for cutting chemical wastes; and
investigating pollution prevention opportunities for ethylene oxide and persistent,
bioaccumulative, and toxic pollutants.
Michigan Hospital Association Promotes P2
EPA Region 5 recently awarded a matching funds grant to the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor
to promote pollution prevention (P2) in the health care industry in partnership with the
Michigan Hospital Association. The project will focus on mercury reduction in SE Michigan.
The award was made through the Environmental Justice P2 Grant program competition.
WI DNR Supports Hospital Outreach Effort
In 1998, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provided information encouraging
mercury reduction to state hospitals and clinics. "Mercury-Free: What's In It for
Me," was included with the annual medical waste report that hospitals must complete
for the state. This outreach effort was the result of interaction and cooperation between
two different bureaus within DNR. While hospitals are not required to report on mercury
reduction efforts underway, two chose to do so.
Great Lakes Dental Mercury Reduction Project
In 1998, the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) will initiate the Great
Lakes Dental Mercury Reduction Project with funding from the Great Lakes Protection Fund.
This project will build on the success and experience of the WLSSD and its partners in the
dental profession, as well as the successes that have occurred in other Great Lakes
states. The partners in this project will be waste management professionals and
representatives from state or local dental associations from all states bordering the
Great Lakes. The project will emphasize cooperation between dental professionals and waste
managers and will focus on sharing successes, devising strategies, and setting priorities.
The workgroup will identify practical mercury-reducing opportunities and identify
practices that can be duplicated across all the Great Lakes States.
Contact: Tim Tuominen, Pollution Prevention Chemist, WLSSD,
(218) 722-3336
Bethlehem Steel Burns Harbor, Ispat Inland, Inc., Indiana Harbor Works, U.S. Steel
Gary Works, Lake Michigan Forum, IDEM, EPA Agree to Reduce Mercury Use
On September 15, 1998, three northwest Indiana steel mills—Bethlehem Steel Burns
Harbor, Ispat Inland Inc. Indiana Harbor Works, and U.S. Steel Gary Works—signed a
voluntary agreement with the Lake Michigan Forum, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to reduce the use of
mercury at their facilities. The mills are interested in responding to the growing concern
about mercury in the environment and intend to develop a clean sweep/pollution prevention
initiative to inventory, recycle, and substitute to the greatest extent practicable
mercury at their facilities. To accomplish this, the mills have agreed to inventory
mercury in equipment, materials, in storage, and in waste streams at their northwest
Indiana facilities. The effort will result in facility-specific reduction plans that will
detail pollution prevention activities through equipment substitutions, purchasing
practices, recycling, better management, and employee education. The companies signed the
agreement as part of the Lake Michigan Primary Metals Project, a pollution prevention
effort initiated by the Lake Michigan Forum—a stakeholder group that provides input to
EPA on the Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan.
Chlorine Institute Reports Progress on Mercury Reduction Initiative
The Chlorine Institute has provided to USEPA its first annual report detailing the
chlor-alkali industry's progress towards meeting a voluntary commitment to reducing
mercury use 50 percent by 2005. The report includes descriptions of numerous activities
undertaken to help identify reduction opportunities, and also provides data on preliminary
reductions achieved in 1996 and 1997. According to the report, the chlor-alkali sector's
use of mercury fell by approximately one-quarter during 1996 and 1997. The Chlorine
Institute's report, however, advises not to over-interpret data from this limited time
span as "mercury usage can be highly variable in any given time period . . ."
The Chlorine Institute's report can be viewed at:
http://www.epa.gov/bnsdocs/chlinstrpt.html.
EPA Reviews Land Disposal Regulations
U.S. EPA's Waste Treatment Branch (WTB) of the Office of Solid Waste (OSW) is currently
writing an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that is set to be released in
December 1998. It will request information that could lead to revision of the Land
Disposal Restriction (LDR) standards for mercury containing wastes in the Code of Federal
Regulations (40 CFR Part 268). One area that the ANPRM will specifically examine is the
effectiveness of incineration (IMERC) and retorting (RMERC) in the treatment of high
mercury (>260 ppm) wastes. EPA is concerned that IMERC, which does not destroy,
extract, or immobilize mercury, may actually be increasing potential environmental hazards
by releasing mercury vapor to the atmosphere. The ANPRM will also request data on
alternatives to IMERC and RMERC, including stabilization technologies. This in-depth look
at the current LDR mercury regulations will ensure that OSW is doing its part to keep
mercury out of the Great Lakes and other impacted waterbodies.
Mercury and Hexachlorobenzene: The Dow Chemical Company
In support of the Binational Toxics Strategy, The Dow Chemical Company has set a goal
for the company to reduce air and water emissions of hexachlorobenzene and mercury
compounds by 75 percent by 2005.
Contact: Werner Braun, Dow Chemical Company, (517) 636-6151
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