Background Materials Related to Wisconsin's Mercury Rule Revision

Existing State Mercury Rule

In May 2000 a citizen petition from a broad-based group of concerned individuals prompted the Department to develop rules to limit mercury air emissions. After a lengthy and intense stakeholder process, including hearings and advisory groups, the Natural Resources Board adopted regulations in June 2003. The legislature reviewed and further modified the regulations, which were published in September of 2004 and took effect October 1, 2004.

• Wisconsin's Mercury Rule published in September 2004 [PDF 68KB]
• Factsheet: Wisconsin Regulations for Controlling Mercury Emissions from Electric Utilities [PDF 40KB]
• Archived material related to the rule (zip files)

Public Comments on the Mercury Rule Revisions

This page contains: 1) links to both written public comments and comments received at the public hearings on the state's mercury rule revisions; and 2) a table summarizing the comments.

• Go to Public Comments.
• Presentation provided to the Natural Resources Board on August 15, 2007, at their meeting in Bayfield, Wiscosin [PDF, 152KB]

Mercury Seminar

Presentations provided to the Natural Resources Board on July 18, 2007, at an informational seminar on mercury in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Other Important Documents

1. Wisconsin utilities' response to citizen petition [PDF 2720KB]
• Cover letter [PDF 48KB]
2. DNR presentation to the Natural Resources Board on the Clean Air Mercury Rule - January 24, 2007 [PDF 67KB]
3. Citizen petition for revision and adoption of NR 446 mercury rules - January 22, 2007 [PDF 110KB]
4. Presentation to the Clean Air Act Task Force, December 15, 2006 [PDF 51KB]
5. Governor Doyle announces directive to reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants by 90 percent - August 25, 2006 [PDF 48KB]
6. State mercury rule periodic evaluation and reconciliation report - March 20, 2006 [PDF 47KB]
7. EPA's model mercury cap & trade rule [PDF 215KB]
8. Scope statement relating to revisions to the state mercury rule to be consistent with the federal Clean Air Mercury Rule - June 6, 2005 [PDF 29KB]
9. Rule agenda/Board action checklist - May 26, 2005 [PDF 39KB]

March 2007 Proposed Rules - Public Hearings Held May 2007

1. Green sheet [PDF 35KB]
2. Background memo from Secretary Hassett to the Natural Resources Board [PDF 62KB]
   • Attachment A [PDF 40KB]
3. Fiscal estimate [PDF 57KB]
4. AM-32-05 - Proposed rules for hearing authorization [PDF 340KB]
5. News release - Hearings set on proposal to control mercury emissions
6. Public hearing notice for proposed rules (AM-32-05), April 10, 2007 [PDF 39KB]
7. Mercury reduction options for public comment [PDF 43KB]
8. Presentation to the Natural Resources Board on March 28, 2007, requesting authorization for public hearings on rule revisions to adopt the Clean Air Mercury Rule (AM-32-05) [PDF 90KB]
9. Motion adopted by the Natural Resources Board at their March 2007 meeting related to public hearings for AM-32-05 [PDF 11KB]

November 2005 public informational meetings

1. Public information meetings on revisions to Wisconsin's mercury rule (PDF 16KB)
2. Revisions to the state mercury rule, November 2005 public informational meetings [PDF 32KB]
3. Table comparing state mercury rule requirements with the CAMR [PDF 34KB]
4. EPA's mercury budget determination for Wisconsin [PDF 31KB]

|| Wisconsin's Mercury Rule and Revisions || Mercury and Coal-Fired Power Plants || Air Management ||