Quicksilver Caucus State Policy Leaders 2007 Mercury Workshop – Final Agenda
May 3 and 4, 2007
Madison, Wisconsin
Meeting Objectives:
1) Highlight the role of state actions in the global environment and the effectiveness of State leadership to reduce and manage mercury
2) Identify ways that the states can help each other establish effective mercury strategies, plans and policies tailored to their specific circumstances
3) Identify and discuss priorities for the QSC and for US EPA
Session 1 – An Overview of the Nature and Extent of the Mercury Problem
- Mercury Toxicity and Health Issues - Dr. Henry Anderson, WI
- Sources, Environmental Fate and Impacts – Dr. David Krabbenhoft, USGS (Presentation Not Available)
Session 2 – States Lead the Way and Achieve Environmental Results
Session Overview: The States have risen to the challenge of reducing and managing mercury through programs that have been innovative and precedent setting. State initiated efforts created highly effective working groups such as the Great Lakes Bi-national effort; the New England Governors/ Eastern Canadian Premiers Mercury Action Plan; the Quicksilver Caucus; and the Interstate Mercury Education and Reduction Clearinghouse. These groups, working collaboratively, have developed holistic approaches, mobilized public support, maximized efficiencies and taken advantage of windows of opportunity to address mercury. This session showcases five state actions that have made a difference in addressing Hg.
- Local and Regional Emission Reductions Associated With Lower Mercury Levels in Fish and Wildlife – Mark Smith, MA
- Nevada’s Mercury Air Emission Control Program - Rob Bamford, NV
- Mercury Pollutant Minimization Program - Guidance Manual for Municipalities – Randy Case, WI
- Lamp and Button Cell Battery Recycling – Karen Knaebel, VT
- Colorado Crematoria Findings – Mark McMillan, CO
Session 3 – Informal Networking Opportunity on Selected Topics
Session 4 - Product Stewardship and Mercury Products: What Does the Future Hold?
Session Overview: State efforts aimed at recycling mercury-added products have prevented the disposal of thousands of pounds of mercury and raised awareness about safe cleanup of mercury spills. From the beginning, states incorporated principles of product stewardship into their mercury product strategies. These efforts have played a leadership role in promoting and expanding the principles of product stewardship to other states and other products of environmental concern, such as electronic equipment. This session will first present a global profile of mercury products and then address product stewardship issues and principles through a focus on mercury product recycling and reduction.
- David Lennett, NRDC and Product Stewardship Institute
- Becky Lockart, IL and IMERC
- Charles Griffith, The Ecology Center
Session 5 - Addressing Mercury Impaired Waterbodies: A TMDL Update
Session Overview: This session will address national and state developments and perspectives relating to Clean Water Act Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements and assessments for mercury. Two recent state/regional approaches will be discussed.
- National Developments – John Goodin, US EPA
- Minnesota Statewide TMDL -- the State View – Howard Markus, MN
- Minnesota Statewide TMDL -- the Federal View – Dean Maraldo, US EPA
- North East States' Regional TMDL Approach – Mark Smith, MA
Session 6 - Reduction Strategies/Technologies for Coal/Fuels
Session Overview: This session will focus on state and federal efforts and perspectives relating to the control of mercury emissions from coal combustion. An update on control technologies will be presented and two state programs highlighted.
- State Updates on CAMR and CAIR - John Paul, NAACA and Dayton, OH
- Control technology/equipment: What’s available & what’s possible – Richard Schlager, ADA-ES
- PA State Program Perspectives – Krishnan Ramamurthy, PA
- IL State Program Perspectives – Doug Scott, IL
Session 7 – State Strategies and Programs- Experiences and Ideas for Future Action
Session Overview: This session will highlight strategies, process and communication issues and overall advantages and disadvantages of developing and implementing a State Mercury Reduction Plan. Experiences of states with different plans will be shared.
Session 8 - Mercury as a Global Pollutant
Session 9 - Private/ Government Partnerships: Facilitating Collaboration
Session 10 - Federal Perspectives and Progress – Implementation of the US EPA Mercury Road Map