justnorth posted on April 18, 2007 08:13 :: 1670 Views
MADISON -- The public will have an opportunity to review and comment on a proposal aimed at reducing the amount of mercury that coal-fired electrical generating units emit in Wisconsin at a series of public hearings in May.
“Controlling mercury emissions is vital in protecting Wisconsin’s environment and public health,” said Al Shea, administrator of the Department of Natural Resources Air and Waste Division. “The public has already been vocal on this issue, and we are looking forward to having additional input.”
The DNR has proposed revisions to NR 446, which requires each utility with coal-fired electrical generating units affected by the federal Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) to meet an annual mercury emission cap. There are currently 48 such units in Wisconsin, operated by eight utilities in Wisconsin. The proposed changes would allow the department to implement the CAMR in Wisconsin.
At the March 2007 Natural Resources Board meeting, DNR staff proposed the following changes to the state’s mercury rules:
- Require that the state rule be consistent with CAMR standards.
- Compliance with the CAMR would require each Wisconsin utility with affected coal-fired power plants to meet an annual mercury emission cap without participating in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s national trading program.
- Adopt rules by June 10, 2010 aimed at a 90 percent mercury reduction at all coal-fired power plants. Incentives will also be developed to encourage early achievement of the 90 percent reduction. Gov. Jim Doyle directed the agency to reach a 90 percent reduction by 2020.
In addition to authorizing hearings on NR 446, the board also requested that the agency offer additional options for reducing mercury, which include:
- Reducing mercury emissions by 90 to 95 percent by Jan. 1, 2012, from all coal burning electrical generating units in the state as requested in a January 2007 Citizen Petition to the department.
- Participating in EPA’s optional national mercury allowance trading and banking program to achieve the reductions required in the federal Clean Air Mercury rule.
- Participating in EPA’s national allowance trading and banking program that would sunset on Jan. 1, 2015, which would allow Wisconsin utilities to participate for five years in the national trading and banking program from the inception of the first reduction phase of the CAMR (Jan. 1, 2010).
The public hearings on revisions to NR 446 will take place:
- May 15, Green Bay - Green Bay State Office Building, Room 152-A, 200 N. Jefferson St.
- May 17, Stevens Point - Portage County Annex Building, Conference Room 2, 1462 Strongs Ave.
- May 22, Eau Claire - DNR Office Building, Front Conference Room, 1300 W. Clairemont Ave.
- May 23, Madison - Room 041 (Department of Public Instruction’s room in GEF III), 125 S. Webster St.
- May 24 Milwaukee - DNR Southeast Regional Headquarters, Room 141, 2300 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon Heinrich, Bureau of Air Management Environmental Analysis Section Chief - (608) 267-7547
Article Source:
http://justnorth.com/Articles/tabid/105/articleType/AuthorView/authorID/12/justnorth.aspx