Mercury regulations producing results: State shuts down ore roasters at mine

CARSON CITY, Nev.–State regulations, enacted in 2006 that require mercury emissions controls to reduce the amount of mercury emitted into the air from precious metal mines, are producing some early positive results, according to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP).

In an update on recent activities, NDEP Administrator Leo Drozdoff today announced that the Mercury Air Emissions Control Program has resulted in recent proactive actions by two mining companies to reduce mercury emissions, as well as an enforcement action against one company.

He applauded two companies for their early installation of new and improved mercury emissions control equipment in accordance with the incentive portion of the regulations.
Goldcorp and Round Mountain Gold Corp. have installed deep-bed sulfur-impregnated carbon filters on mercury emitting units at their Marigold and Smokey Valley mines respectively.

Preliminary test results reported by Goldcorp show a dramatic reduction in annual mercury air emissions from those units at its Marigold Mine, from 893 pounds in 2006 to less than one pound in 2007. Round Mountain will report its results soon. By taking the risk of installing new technology before their Nevada Maximum Achievable Control Technology (NvMACT) requirements have been determined, the companies will each earn an Early Reduction Credit (ERC). An ERC gives a company two extra years to modify or replace its mercury emissions control equipment, should NDEP determine that the technology they’ve installed does not meet the yet-to-be-established NvMACT requirements.

Hillsboro awaits mercury removal (Courier News, N.J.)

Shipments to Nevada now expected in spring

HILLSBOROUGH, N.J.–The removal of 2,615 metric tons of mercury stored at the General Services Administration depot here has become a yearlong waiting game.

The players include township officials and Congressman Mike Ferguson, R-New Providence, who said they want the mercury “gone yesterday” from the Route 206 facility. On the other side are Nevada Department of Environmental Protection and the Defense National Stockpile Center officials, who want to take their time to ensure the mercury is moved safely and securely to an Army Depot in Hawthorne, Nev.

Read the complete article at the Courier News.

Nevada Mercury Emissions Testing Program on Schedule

CARSON CITY, Nev.–The initial phase of mercury emissions testing at Nevada’s largest precious metal mines is nearing completion, and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) reports that the program is on schedule and working as expected.

Mercury fugitive emissions contract awarded to University of Nevada

CARSON CITY, Nev.–A University of Nevada researcher has been awarded a $250,000 contract to conduct a two-year research project to characterize mercury emissions to the atmosphere from areas of mining waste, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) announced today.