Possible Air Quality Rule to Establish a Mercury Emission Inventory and Reduction Requirements
Many rivers and lakes in Minnesota contain too much mercury. Most of this mercury is deposited from the air. Federal law requires the state to develop a clean up plan, called a TMDL. The MPCA plans to draft a rule to support the goals of the TMDL. Sources of mercury in Minnesota have to do their part to meet these goals. Air emissions of mercury have to be reduced by about 86% by 2025.
The rule will most likely have two main parts.
- Affected facilities will have to report their air emissions of mercury. The rule will contain a schedule and the methods for them to track and report their mercury emissions.
- Affected facilities will also either develop a plan or be subject to a performance standard to reduce air emissions of mercury. The MPCA expects to adopt several federal performance standards that cover mercury. For facilities with a plan, the plan will be enforceable. It would either be included in their air emission permits or addressed through some other mechanism.
The sections of Minnesota’s rules that may be amended are Minn. Rules chapters 7001 (Permits and Certifications), 7005 (Definitions and Abbreviations), 7007 (Permits and Offsets), 7017 (Monitoring and Testing Requirements), and 7019 (Emission Inventory Requirements). However, there is also the possibility of establishing a new chapter for mercury regulation.
Tentative Schedule
|
Task |
Date(s) |
|---|---|
|
Publish request for comments |
July 27, 2009 |
|
Stakeholder engagement |
Preliminary Draft #1 — A stakeholder meeting was held November 2010 and a preliminary draft of the rule was shared. Industry Sector Meetings — Industry specific stakeholder meetings were held in advance of the July 31, 2012 TMDL stakeholder group meeting. The purpose of these meetings was to share only performance standard rule language being considered for that sector. The four industry sector meetings were held on the following dates:
Preliminary Draft #2 — A TMDL Stakeholder meeting was held on July 31, 2012. Preliminary Draft #2 version dated 7/19/2012 (PD#2) was discussed at the meeting. Informal comments that were submitted are currently under consideration. |
|
Publish Dual Notice |
March 2013 |
|
Final adoption
|
~3 months after Dual Notice |
Notice(s)
Request for Comments - 27, July 2009, (34 SR 122)Rule-related Documents
-
Rule-related documents (aq-rule4-03e) This file will be updated as additional materials become available.
Rule Contacts
- Barbara Conti, 651-757-2288 — Mercury rule questions
- Yolanda Letnes, 651-757-2527 — General rulemaking questions
