Environment DEC
From the May 2007 issue
Mercury Reduction Plan for New York and New England Waters
A draft plan has been released for reducing mercury in the waters of New York State and New England to eliminate fish-consumption advisories caused by mercury from air deposition. Seven states-New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont-collaborated with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) to produce the draft plan entitled, "Northeast Regional Mercury Total Maximum Daily Load" (TMDL). In New York State, the draft TMDL is not anticipated to place any additional economic or regulatory burdens on municipalities. The intent of the draft plan is to serve as a starting place for initiatives to control atmospheric deposition to levels where fish-consumption advisories are no longer necessary.
People should limit their consumption of fish from waters in the Northeast due to elevated levels of mercury
In the Northeast, elevated levels of mercury in certain fish species, such as largemouth and smallmouth bass and walleye, are of great concern and have resulted in statewide advisories for more than 10,000 lakes, ponds and reservoirs and more than 46,000 river miles in the seven-state region. In New York State, more than 80 water bodies have restricted advisories for fish consumption based on elevated levels of mercury. While most of the waters are in the Adirondacks and Catskills, others also are affected,such as parts of the Hudson and Susquehanna rivers and Lake Champlain.
The draft TMDL plan recognizes that the majority of mercury in state waters comes from sources outside New York. Coal-fired power plants bring mercury to the region's waters through atmospheric deposition. The plan stipulates that mercury deposition must be reduced by between 86 and 98 percent before fish-consumption advisories can be rescinded and waters can be removed from the impaired list.
To see the draft TMDL plan, please visit DEC's website a or the NEIWPCC website at www.neiwpcc.org/mercury. Participating states will accept comments on the proposed plan until May 25, 2007.
Public Meetings and Comments
Although municipalities will not be faced with economic or regulatory burdens because of this plan, comments from the public are welcome
Three public meetings in New York are planned at the following locations:
- May 2, 2007, 3-5 PM, Empire Expo Center, DEC Log Cabin, 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse, Onondaga County
- May 3, 2007, 3-5 PM, Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Ave., Greenburgh, Westchester County
- May 4, 2007, 3-5 PM, Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County Auditorium, 50 West High Street, Ballston Spa, Saratoga County
Public comments can be sent to Richard Draper, Bureau of Water Assessment and Management, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany NY 12233-3505, or as an attached MSWord document to: dowinfo@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
Fish-Consumption Advisories
Eating fish caught in New York can yield health benefits, but to reduce potential exposure to unwanted contaminants, individuals should follow the advisories listed in the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) booklet entitled, 2006-2007 Health Advisories: Chemicals in Sportfish and Game. These advisories can be found on NYSDOH's website at www.nyhealth.gov/environmental/outdoors/fish/fish.htm.
