Mercury

Mercury contamination of freshwater fish in the Great Lakes states is a significant public health and economic issue. Wisconsin promulgated its state rule for coal-fired utility plants in September 2004 and revised it in 2008. Information on the state rule and other mercury related topics are contained on these pages.

Wisconsin's Mercury Rule

Rule Summary

40% reduction by 2010: Large coal-fired power plants must meet a 40% mercury emission reduction by January 1, 2010.

90% reduction by 2015: Large coal-fired power plants must meet a 90% mercury emission reduction or limit the concentration of mercury emissions to 0.0080 pounds of mercury per gigawatt-hour by January 1, 2015.

Multi-pollutant option: Large coal-fired power plants can choose a multi-pollutant alternative. This option requires affected power plants to achieve nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) reductions beyond current federal and state regulations. Under the multi-pollutant option, an additional six years is allowed to achieve the 90% mercury emission reduction standard. Affected power plants must meet 70% emission reduction or emission concentration of 0.0190 pounds mercury per gigawatt-hour by January 1, 2015, 80% emission reduction or emission concentration of 0.0130 pounds of mercury per gigawatt-hour by January 1, 2018, and 90% mercury emission reduction or emission concentration limit of 0.0080 pounds of mercury per gigawatt-hour by January 1, 2021.

Mercury Rule Factsheet [PDF 23KB]

Background Materials

Other Sources of Information on Mercury

The links below include presentations on mercury control as well as Wisconsin fish consumption advisories and information at EPA's Web site.

• ADA Environmental Solutions presentation [PDF 3,809KB]
• Wisconsin Electric - Wisconsin Gas presentation on ash impacts [PDF 309KB]
• EPA's mercury web page: http://www.epa.gov/mercury/ [exit DNR].
• EPA's data collection project for 1999 mercury emissions from power plants is available at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/combust/utiltox/utoxpg.html [exit DNR].
• Binational Toxics Strategy Mercury Workgroup-Reducing Mercury in the Great Lakes Region http://www.epa.gov/region5/air/mercury/reducing.html [exit DNR]
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• Wisconsin Fish Consumption Advisories.
• Bureau of Cooperative Environmental Assistance Mercury Web site Mercury in the Environment.