Environmental ▼News Wisconsin pulls out ahead on mercury controls
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says. Wisconsin is also one of many states in the Great Lakes region and New England that have mercury advisories on most if not all of their water bodies and have voluntary mercury reduction plans in place
ing could be used for the baseline, Heinrich says. Later, facilities would report their emission reduction results to DNR, but the rule won’t require continuous emission monitoring (CEM). “We’ve recog-
Projected mercury accummulation in the environment As much as 38,000 lbs. less of mercury would accumulate in the environment during the 30-year period from 2002 to 2032 from major coal-fired plants in Wisconsin, if the state's ambitious proposed rule is finalized. 80,000 60,000 50,000
60,465 50,040 39,615
40,000
31,484
29,190
30,000 18,765
20,000 10,000
70,890
Emission rate reduction milestones from 1999 base year (lbs./yr.) 2007—30% 2012—50% 2017—90%
70,000
Mercury (pounds)
n the next few months, Wisconsin regulators plan to propose a comprehensive rule that calls for a reduction in mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The proposal would put Wisconsin ahead of the U.S. EPA’s schedule for controlling mercury from these plants and marks the first state rule of its kind. In June 2001, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released its first proposal to require mercury emission reductions from power plants and other large industrial facilities in three phases, beginning three years after the final rule is put into place: a 30% reduction in five years, 50% in 10 years, and a 90% reduction in 15 years. To meet the standards, utilities could apply control technologies, such as activated carbon injection and new fabric filters; switch from coal to natural gas; or buy credits to cover up to 50% of their plant’s required reduction from other facilities operating in the state. Following public hearings, DNR staff has been analyzing the comments and may revise the June proposal before releasing a new proposal, says Jon Heinrich, rule manager for DNR. Wisconsin’s actions have a precedent: In 1985, it became the first state to issue rules to control acid rain-causing SO2 and NOx emissions from power plants, five years ahead of the federal Clean Air Act. The reasons were the same then as they are now, says Heinrich: greatly impaired natural resources, a concerned citizenry, legislators eager to act, and a utility industry that is willing to discuss regulation. “All of the major stakeholders agree that mercury emission reductions should occur in Wisconsin, that we shouldn’t necessarily wait for the federal government to act,” Heinrich
25,024
29,399
32,526
30,441
18,140 8,340
0 2002
2007
2012
2017
2022
2027
2032
Year Note: Loading to the environment is set to zero at beginning of 1999. Source: WDNR Bureau of Air Management.
aimed at reducing mercury use and releases from hospitals, companies, and schools. And in August, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers agreed to begin developing strategies to reduce utility mercury emissions. The rule would apply to any industrial source that emits more than 10 lbs. of mercury annually, including waste incinerators, chloralkali plants and other industrial boilers. The DNR would set an emission ceiling for these facilities, and if they exceed that ceiling, they could buy emission credits to make up the difference. The baseline, developed by the source owners, will be the average annual mercury emissions from 1998 to 2000 calculated using procedures outlined in the final rule. Stack emissions test-
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nized that CEMs are not there as a technology,” Heinrich says. Critics of the trading scheme, including environmentalists, say that because mercury is emitted in very small volumes, a trading program would be hard to support. “We may consider phasing that out,” Heinrich says. Utility executives throughout the country maintain that despite pilot tests of control technologies, many questions remain, including how to deal with the mercury-contaminated fly-ash waste from activated carbon injection. But putting a regulation in place will move the technology discussions forward, Heinrich says. “Within three years, we are convinced we will have answers to the key questions about control technologies.”
At the same time that Wisconsin is crafting a proposal, staff at the U.S. EPA are gathering data for a technology-based standard they must propose in December 2003, that will be based on the average emissions reductions achieved by the top 12% of power plants. This approach, known as a Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rule, is not likely to include phased reductions, and will require facilities to meet the standard by 2007. EPA is under a court order to move forward with the MACT rule, but policy leaders at the agency say they prefer Bush’s Clear Skies approach. “The Clear Skies initiative will reduce more emissions faster than the program in the Clean Air Act,” says John Bachmann, associate director of science and policy and new programs in EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. In September, Heinirch told DNR’s Natural Resources Board, which will ultimately decide on the final language of the rule, that there is no consensus. Still, many participating in the advisory group say they are “guardedly optimistic” that a proposal will be approved by the advisory board and released in the next few months. By press time in October, DNR’s final proposal was still taking shape. “We all agree to reduce mercury emissions, but we can’t agree on what to move forward on,” Heinrich said. —CATHERINE M. COONEY
UNEP takes first steps to control worldwide mercury releases Negotiations for a legally binding global treaty to restrict mercury use could begin next year, if the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Governing Council follows the advice of scientific experts concerned about
the environmental and health impacts of mercury. Some 150 scientists from UNEP’s Mercury Assessment Working Group (MAWG) met in Geneva in September and concluded that “there is sufficient evidence of sig-
News Briefs Kyoto goals elusive Even if the developed nations that are part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) adopt all of the energy efficiency and climate-friendly policy measures now under discussion, meeting the Kyoto Protocol’s targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be difficult, according to the World Energy Outlook 2002. Published every two years by the International Energy Agency, this most recent update extends the organization’s projections by 10 years to 2030. The outlook projects that under the reference scenario, which assumes no new energy efficiency or ecological policies are adopted, energy-related carbon emissions would grow by 16 billion metric tons, or 70% above today’s level. To order a copy, go to www.iea.org.
“Phill” up at home Consumers can now refuel natural gas vehicles at home, says FuelMaker Corporation, which unveiled “Phill”, a home-based refueling appliance for natural gas vehicles in October. Phill is expected to cost less than U.S. $2000 (not including installation) and its developers say the convenience and affordability of home fueling will generate consumer demand for natural gas-powered vehicles, which have low emissions of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. American Honda Motor Co., a 20% shareholder in FuelMaker, simultaneously announced consumer marketing plans for its natural gas-powered Civic GX. Phill facilitates refueling from an existing natural gas line in a house and should be on sale in late 2003. For more information, go to www.fuel maker.com/Phill.
DECEMBER 1, 2002 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ■ 441 A
FUEL MAKER CORP.
Executives from power companies that serve Wisconsin are participating, with environmentalists, citizen groups, and others, in an advisory group on DNR’s proposal, but the utilities are pushing for a multi-emissions approach to be included in the rule. Calling for reducing levels of SO2, NOx, and mercury in the same rule would allow companies to plan ahead for reductions and cost, they say. Coming down the pike for utilities are federal rules to control NOx in mid-2004, compliance with a national mercury rule and ozone rules in 2007, and new fine particulate matter (PM2.5) rules in 2010, utility executives point out. “The technology decision has to be made after the control level is in place, and it should be made in the context of multi-emissions controls,” says Joseph Shefcheck, managing director and chief environmental officer of Alliant Energy, an international energy company. “That is why we support [President Bush’s] Clear Skies [initiative]” (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2002, 36, 181A–182A.). Wisconsin’s proposal is more stringent than Clear Skies, which lays out plans to reduce mercury emissions by 69% in 15 years. Wisconsin is considering including a multipollutant emission reduction compliance option in its rule, says Heinrich. But it would be an alternative, rather than the primary path to achieve reductions, he adds.
Environmental▼News nificant global adverse impacts to chlor-alkali plants, which produce for reuse. “A continuing supply of warrant international action” on chlorine and caustic soda, are surplus mercury will keep the protecting against mercury polluphased out. The EU industry has price low and the use of mercury tion. UNEP’s Council hopes to agreed to phase out mercury-based will remain attractive,” according reach a consensus on the proposal plants by 2020. The U.S. governto the EC report. at its meeting in Nairobi next ment holds more than 5000 tons of However, the EC is concerned February. The main threat comes mercury in storage, the report about considerable environmental from consuming methylmercury, notes, and the United States’ chlordamage that could be caused by which accumulates in fish, animals, alkali industry estimates it will have surplus mercury. “Mercury is a longand humans. Methylmerrange transboundary air cury is a potent neurotoxpollutant,” the EC wrote, in even at low doses. “and further placing it on Mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants are “It is almost certain the market will lead to found all over Europe that the governing counmercury emissions that cil will approve someadd to the already inThe number of chlor-alkali plants in member states of thing,” says Jim Willis, creased local and global the European Union (orange), accession countries UNEP’s chemicals direcbackground levels in the (green), and Switzerland (red) in 2001. tor, who is not aware of environment.” any countries that opThe report identifies pose a mercury treaty. intermediate storage as a Treaties usually take two disposal option, noting to four years to negotiate that it could be stored and another two to five safely for an unknown pe1 years to enter into force. riod of time until a strateThe MAWG noted the gy for reuse and/or safe dangers of mercury, indisposal is designed. But 2 cluding adverse neurodethis option isn’t risk free: velopmental effects, as Disadvantages include ad3 2 well as adverse effects on ditional costs, because this 1 3 10 the cardiovascular, imis only an interim solution, 2 1 mune, and reproductive and possibly additional 7 1 3 systems. The group recemissions from handling. ? 9 ommended several opThe report concludes tions for restricting that the best solution, 1 9 mercury use, including a from an environmental 0 1 “nonbinding global prostandpoint, is to dispose gram of action”. It also of surplus mercury, alsuggested that UNEP though “appropriate should encourage govmethods are not yet fully ernments and industry to developed and costs are Source: Adapted from the Commission of the European Communities report. reduce or eliminate merrelatively high”. cury’s production. Environmental organizaMore immediately, governments some 3000 tons of mercury availtions are concerned about storing could raise the awareness of the able once it shuts down its mermercury, because it is exceptionally dangers of mercury among vulneracury-cell plants. persistent and some leakage is inble groups, such as pregnant The European industry favors evitable, says Mathew Wilkinson of women. “Outside of a few wealthy mercury reuse, says Peter Whippy the World Wide Fund for Nature countries, little has been done to of Euro Chlor, the chlor-alkali inU.K. Nonetheless, the advice from inform susceptible people of the dustry federation in Western EurUNEP’s mercury working group to risks they face, ” says Willis. ope. Because mining mercury the governing council “puts the Plans to remove mercury from produces emissions to air, reuse issue of mercury on the radar commerce could be thwarted due “helps minimize environmental screen of governments, so they to an excess of surplus mercury in pollution by leaving the equivalent can’t ignore it,” he adds. both Europe and the United States, amount of mercury in the ground,” The Report from the Commission combined with a demand for it in he adds. Reuse projects are under to the Council Concerning Mercury developing countries. In a report way: Euro Chlor members have from the Chlor-Alkali Industry can published in September, the agreed to sell up to 1000 tons per be found on the Web at http:// European Commission found there year of mercury back to Minas de europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/rpt/ would be 13,000–15,000 tons of Almaden, the largest mercury mine 2002/com2002_0489en01.pdf. mercury left once mercury-based in the world, where it will be sold —MARIA BURKE Helsinki
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