The origin of the REAL "Cap and Trade" - Mercury Removal Talk by Gene Decker, Manager Generation Chemical Processes for Black Hills Corporation, Golden Colorado offices, at Gillette, Wyoming.
By By Black Hills Today.com staff writer - Kathy L. Swensen
Mercury Removal Talk, Gene Decker, Part 1
Gene Decker, Manager Generation Chemical Processes, from the Golden, Colorado Black Hills Corporation offices, gave "Mercury Removal Talk" at Gillette, Wyoming. Campbell County Chamber of Commerce AENR (Agriculture, Energy, & Natural Resources) Committee, and Investor Relations Manager, were hosts to a series of Ag & Energy related public talks, for the interested citizens in the Gillette, Wyoming region.
Black Hills Corp - Wyodak Plant spokesperson, Gene Decker, gave an hour presentation on “Mercury Removal” to a group of community citizens, at the Gillette Library Conference Room.
Part 1 – Video segment introduces Mercury Control in Power River Basin, Wyoming, a region of many coal mines that send many tons of coal ore by rail, via the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Rail system, to destinations all over the United States.
Justin Holcumb – Chair of Ag & Energy Committee Campbell County Chamber of Commerce, Gillette, Wyoming said it is really important to continue the Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources (AENR) work in educating the public on important issues related to Energy and Natural Resources, Clean Air and Environment Protection. Holcomb introduced Gene Decker's presentation on "Mercury Control in Powder River Basin; Pulverized Coal Fired Utility Boilers."
Gene Deckers' introduction included statistics about the Wyodak - Coal Powered Electrical Plant operating and making 500 megawatts of coal powered electricity for this region. Much of the following information is verbatim from the power point presentation.
Key Topics Decker focused on were:
I. Why Control Mercury Emissions? - Mercury is a neurotoxin.
Human Exposure to Hg is called the Bio-accumulation of Methyl-mercury, and its influence in the Ecosystem. How it gets into the food chain was explained.
A. Mercury is a Neurotoxin.
1. Mercury emissions from natural and anthropogenic sources enter the global mercury cycle and are disturbed in the environment locally and globally through various processes.
2. Atmospheric emissions of mercury can enter the environment through deposition onto soils and water. When mercury enters fresh water bodies and the oceans, or settles into sediments and soils, it can become involved in bio-geochemical cycles, be transformed into the highly toxic form of methyl-mercury, and bio-accumulate in the food chain.
3. Predatory, freshwater fish species such as pike, bass and walleye, have also been known to attain elevated methyl-mercury that may be almost completely absorbed by human or animal consumers.
4. While fish consumption is the main source of exposure to methyl-mercury, the Utah Department of Health advises that the benefits and risks of eating fish should be balanced, since fish are an excellent source of high-quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids, and are low in saturated fat.
5. In order to protect Utah residents from mercury poisoning, the Health Department issues fish consumption advisories which recommend limits for consumption of fish caught in Utah waters.
6.. These recommendations are based on an assessment of the health risks posed by mercury or PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) levels detected in fish and scientific information about the harmful effects of mercury and PCBs.
7. There are specific advisories for pregnant women, for young children and for the rest of the population.
8. The advisories vary according to fish species and body of water.
9. Other commercially available fish such as shark, swordfish, and fresh or frozen tuna, generally have higher mercury concentration. Canned 'white' tuna has been found to have a higher mercury concentration than canned 'light' tuna.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are for the first time developing a single uniform advisory covering commercially caught fish and a draft version of the advisory is available on the FDA's Web site.
II. Why Control Mercury Emissions?
A. On March 15, 2005, EPA issued the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) to permanently cap and reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants for the first time ever.
1. This rule makes the United States the first country in the world to regulate mercury emissions from utilities.
2. CAMR establishes “standards of performance” limiting mercury emissions from new and existing coal-fired power plants, and creates a market-based cap and trade program that will reduce nationwide utility emissions of mercury in two distinct phases.
a. The first phase "cap" is 38 tons and emissions will be reduced by taking advantage of 'co-benefit' reductions---that is, mercury reductions achieved by reducing sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions under Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR).
b. In the second phase, due in 2018, coal-fired power plants will be subject to a second "cap," which will reduce emissions to 15 tons upon full implementation.
The U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia vacated the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) in a case decided February 8, 2008. Here's what happened.
1. In 2005, EPA removed electric generating units (EGUs) from the list of regulated industries listed in Section 112 of the Clean Air Act.
2. EPA then adopted CAMR under Section 111 to control only one hazardous air pollutant, mercury, which is emitted from coal-fired EGUs.
3. The court found that in adopting CAMR, EPA had unlawfully removed EGUs from regulation under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act.
Thus, the seemingly trivial act of delisting EGUs from Section 112 actually invalidated regulating them under Section 111. The court's decision has no legal effect until the court's mandate has been issued, further heightening the regulatory uncertainty for mercury emissions. (The 'Trade' part.)
Click the following links for Parts 2, 3, & 4 of the "Mercury Removal Talk", and more of the Real information of the origin of 'Cap and Trade.'
Click the following for an interview with Gene Decker by Campbell County Chamber of Commerce Investor Relations Manager, Christine Overton, after the "Mercury Removal Talk" at Gillette, Wyoming.
