History and Progress of LDEQ’s Mercury Program Chris M. Piehler

1. History and Progress of LDEQ’s Mercury Program Chris M. Piehler

2. The Louisiana Mercury Program Humble Beginnings • Sampling began in 1989-1990 at 5 stations on the Ouachita River via tip from Arkansas • The second sampling project, concluded in June 1993, was also on the Ouachita - 4 stations were added • Largemouth bass from twelve North Louisiana lakes were sampled in fall 1993 • Advisories were issued for the Ouachita River and adjacent oxbows

3. The Louisiana Mercury Program Humble Beginnings • Current project began in July 1994 as a joint effort between USGS and LDEQ • LDEQ continued the project in 1995 without USGS assistance, received Legislative funding consideration (at behest of Audubon Society, LEAN, Sierra Club, Atchafalaya Basin Foundation) • Full time coordinator assigned in 1996 • The mercury sampling program currently has three full time field personnel assigned to collect fish and other data • LDEQ’s current annual budget for the mercury program is approximately $500,000 (annual State General Fund allocation from the Louisiana Legislature)

4. The Louisiana Mercury Program Humble Beginnings • To date over 500 sites on 300 water bodies have been sampled in Louisiana • Initial sampling in areas frequently fished with geochemical parameters thought to promote mercury methylation • Subsequently moved to all areas frequently fished • Currently feel that water body coverage is complete, with many sites having multiple data sets

7. Multi-agency Program • LDEQ, in conjunction with Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (DWF), issue the Fish Consumption Advisories • DEQ is the lead agency, responsible for sampling, data management, yearly reports, and grant funds • DHH is responsible for assessment of data in terms of health risks and the initiation of advisories. • DWF is responsible for some off-shore sampling in the Gulf and specifics relative to fish behaviors, creel surveys for advisory development consideration

8. Program Components • Fish Tissue Monitoring/Advisory development • Sediments, water, plants • Wet Deposition Monitoring • Remediation • PM2.5 Speciation • Water Permitting • Recycling

9. Governor’s Environmental Agenda • In 2004, Gov. Kathleen Blanco announced: • Clean Air Initiative • Clean Water Initiative • Mercury Initiative • In 2005, HCR for LDEQ to develop state action plan • LDEQ hosted a workshop with subsequent discussion groups for multi-stakeholder plan development

11. Louisiana Mercury Risk Reduction Act Act 126 of the 2006 Legislative Session: Primarily giving authority to the LDEQ to regulate mercury in products. Phase-outs, collection programs, auto switches, administrative exemptions, notifications, labeling, use/disposal bans

12. Mercury Risk Reduction Plan • Preface • Acknowledgements • Table of Contents • List of Figures • List of Tables • Acronyms and Abbreviations • Executive Summary • 1.0 Goal Statement/Purpose of this Document • 2.0 Physical/Chemical Properties of Mercury • 3.0 Mercury in the Environment • 3.1 Natural Sources of Mercury • 3.1.1 Volcanism • 3.1.2 Geothermal Systems • 3.1.3 Erosion of Mineral Deposits and Soils • 3.1.4 Marine Waters • 3.1.5 Forest Fires Louisiana Mercury Plan Contents 1.0 Goal Statement/Purpose of this Document 1 2.0 Physical/Chemical Properties of Mercury 3.0 Mercury in the Environment 3.1 Natural Sources of Mercury 3.1.1 Volcanism 3.1.2 Geothermal Systems 3.1.3 Erosion of Mineral Deposits and Soils 3.1.4 Marine Waters 3.1.5 Forest Fires

13. 3.2 Anthropogenic Sources of Mercury • 3.2.1 Manufacturing Sources • 3.2.1.1 Chlorine Production using Mercury-cell Technology • 3.2.1.2 Crude Oil Refining • 3.2.1.3 Electric Arc Furnaces • 3.2.1.4 Lumber, Pulp and Paper Mills • 3.2.1.5 Carbon Black Production • 3.2.2 Combustion Sources • 3.2.2.1 Coal-burning Electrical Generating Units • 3.2.2.2 Crematoria • 3.2.2.3 Municipal Waste Incineration • 3.2.3 Mercury Use in Products • 3.2.3.1 Mercury Manometers Used in Natural Gas Transmission • 3.2.3.2 Drilling Muds Used Oil and Gas Exploration and Production • 3.2.3.3 Dentistry • 3.2.3.4 Laboratories • 3.2.3.5 Medical Facilities • 3.2.3.6 Mercury Manometers Used in Dairies Production • 3.2.3.7 Other Mercury-added products • 3.2.4 Mercury in Waste • 3.2.4.1 Sanitary Sewage Treatment Systems • 3.2.4.2 Landfills • 3.2.5 Agricultural and Forestry Practices

14. 3.3 Atmospheric Deposition of Mercury • 3.4 Re-emission of Mercury • 4.0 Problem Description • 4.1 Mercury Presence, Transport, and Fate • 4.2 Exposures and Effects of Mercury • 4.3 Mercury in Fish, Wildlife, and other Biota • 5.0 Louisiana Mercury Program • 5.1 History • 5.2 Findings of the Mercury Program to Date • 5.2.1 Mercury in Fish Tissue • 5.2.2 Mercury in Epiphytes • 5.2.3 Mercury in Sediment • 5.2.4 Mercury in Atmospheric Wet Deposition • 5.2.5 Toxic Release Inventory • 5.2.6 Mercury Manometer Site Remediation • 5.2.7 PM2.5 Speciation

15. 6.0 Applicable Laws and Regulations by Media • 7.0 The Louisiana Mercury Initiative • 8.0 Program Enhancements for Risk Reduction • 8.1 Existing Program Components • 8.2 New Components/Program Direction • 9.0 Mercury Risk Reduction Plan Action Item Summary • 9.1 Source-specific Strategies • 9.2 Enhancing Public Awareness • 9.3 Administrative • 10.0 References • Fish Consumption Advisories for Mercury in Louisiana, June 2006 • Mercury Minimization Program Guidance for Permit Issued Under the Louisiana Pollution Discharge Elimination System • The Louisiana Mercury Risk Reduction Act of 2006