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Barr's Mercury Experience and Capabilities
Introduction
Barr's experience and capabilities
Internet
resources
Mercury in your
home
Mercury
initiatives (PDF file)
Modeling
the fate of mercury in products (PDF file)
Calculating
Mercury Mass Balances
Barr
has completed assessments of how mercury transfers from one
medium to another or is released to the environment (a "mass
balance") for a number of industrial facilities, including
an oil refinery, a taconite processing plant, and a steel
recycling facility. We work with clients to identify points
at which mercury might enter and leave a facility; review
existing information; and identify and prioritize what data
is needed to accurately complete the mass balance. We collect
samples and have them analyzed with low-level detection methods
to create a complete picture of mercury at a facility. The
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has used Barr's mass-balance
work as an example of how the agency would like other mercury
mass balances to be conducted.
Preparing
Pollutant Minimization Programs and Nondegradation Evaluations
The
Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative requires states to adopt
a mercury water quality standard of 1.3 ng/L for the Great
Lakes and their watersheds. As facilities require new NPDES
permits, many owners of wastewater treatment plants and other
facilities that discharge to basin waters are likely to need
a variance from the mercury standards. As a condition of the
variance, they will be required to develop a pollutant minimization
program (PMP) for mercury. As part of preparing a variance
request, Barr can prepare PMP documents that not only meet
permitting requirements but also serve as how-to guides to
get a facility or community's pollutant minimization program
underway and help direct its progress. We have also assisted
industries and communities applying for NPDES permits for
expanded discharges by preparing "nondegradation evaluations,"
including evaluations for mercury.
Evaluating
Environmental Impacts of Mercury Releases
Deposition
of mercury to aquatic ecosystems near an emission source is
receiving increased attention from federal and state regulatory
agencies. Mercury speciation plays a key role in whether mercury
will be deposited near an emission source. The MPCA has typically
required the environmental review process for a new or modified
facility to include an assessment of potential increased mercury
deposition to lakes near the source. Barr has worked with
the MPCA to develop a screening deposition analysis that can
be used to assess a facility's potential impacts to nearby
lakes. The estimates of mercury deposition to any nearby lakes
are used to estimate potential increases in fish tissue concentrations
and the potential for significant impacts to human health
or the environment. The analysis can then be used to determine
if potential impacts are insignificant, if more detailed analyses
are required, or if there is a need to reduce mercury air
emissions from the new or modified source. Barr can assist
clients in evaluating the potential local-deposition impacts
to aquatic ecosystems and working with clients evaluate options
should a screening analysis or a detailed analysis identify
significant potential for local mercury deposition.
Testing
Mercury Air Emissions
Barr
has conducted mercury emissions stack testing at a variety
of sources. By drawing on our mercury team's knowledge and
stack testing experience, we are able to calculate expected
mercury emission levels and tailor our stack testing design
to provide accurate test results even with very low concentrations
of mercury. In addition to our experience with EPA Method
29, we also have proficiency in the mercury speciation stack
test method (Ontario Hydro Method).
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