1
As of January 1999, the EPA is requiring all coal-fired power plants in the U.S. to provide coal analysis data so that they may calculate mercury emissions. Also, as of June 1999, 78 power plants, including four in Indiana, must develop and conduct tests of mercury emissions from their stacks. The purpose of this EPA program is to evaluate mercury emissions, the different forms of mercury, and the feasibility of controlling the emissions.

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These plants will have site specific plans to collect and test the emissions. The data collected in this effort will be used to evaluate how regulations of electrical utilities on mercury will be applied, what methods are appropriate, who else will be involved, etc. Additional information is available at http://utility.rti.org (Notice there is no www. on this website.)

2
Similar action is being initiated by industry. As part of a 3-stage plan, some industries in Indiana are participating in a voluntary monitoring program to inventory mercury emissions and work on strategies to reduce these emissions. Three facilities in Indiana signed an agreement in the fall of 1998 in response to the Lake Michigan Forum on pollution prevention. The forum invited all industries to participate but Bethlehem Steel, USX, and Ispat Inland (formerly Inland Steel) are the only three conducting mercury inventories. They will submit reduction plans in December of 1999. If you want more information on this program, go to www.lkmichiganforum.org (click on "Mercury Agreement Signed").

3
Indianapolis Power and Light Company (IPALCO) has recently begun a "green power" option for its customers. Under this program customers may choose to receive up to 100% of their electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro-power. This option has proven to be an inexpensive way for customers to support clean power that produces zero mercury emissions. If you want to know more about these programs go to www.ipalco.com. IPALCO also announced last fall that its Perry K plant in Indianapolis has three boilers that have been converted from burning coal to burning a combination of coke oven gas and natural gas. This conversion will reduce Perry K’s coal use by approximately 50%. While mercury and other pollutant emissions from burning coke oven gas has yet to be determined, switching from coal to natural gas is a good first step for power plants.

4
The Mercury Awareness Program is a public education program aimed at reducing disposal of mercury in household trash. The program was launched by IDEM in the fall of 1998. From September 1998 through February 1999, Hoosiers took more than 2,100 pounds of mercury and about 8,500 mercury-containing fluorescent lamps to mercury collections sites throughout the state. Indiana is the first state in the US to offer a free collection service in every county for mercury products and mercury waste. Upon its start, collection events were held to get communities aware of and involved in the program. In this case, citizens have taken the initiative, with help of a government program, to protect themselves and the environment. To participate or to find out more, contact Paula Smith at IDEM (800) 451-6027 or at www.state.in.us/idem/ctap/mercury/index.html#map

These four examples are just the start of a large effort to remove mercury from the environment. With expanded efforts and more participation we can prevent further contamination and begin to clean up the contamination that has already occurred.

People in Indiana should be concerned about the air pollution produced by power plant emissions because it contributes to water quality and health problems. Serious steps to clean up the mercury should be taken now because of the health threats that have not been seriously considered before. We should expect our electricity providers to take actions to protect public health and our environment as well as initiatives from the government to encourage them to do it.

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