Comments Sought on Draft Mercury Standards
Nova Scotians are invited to comment on draft national standards that will reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.
"Nova Scotians value clean air and a pristine environment," said Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morash. "We're eager to hear their thoughts on these draft standards which will significantly reduce the amount of mercury in our environment."
The proposed standards will set provincial caps on mercury emissions from existing plants starting in 2010. Nova Scotia's cap will be 65 kilograms per year, which is equivalent to reducing mercury emissions by 56 per cent.
These standards, combined with measures Nova Scotia Power has already taken, will reduce mercury emissions by more than 70 per cent from 2000 levels.
Each province has a different cap depending on facilities and the type of coal burned. A cap is the maximum number of kilograms of mercury that can be emitted in a year.
Together, the provinces will aim to achieve a proposed national capture rate -- the percentage of mercury in coal that must be removed from emissions -- of 65 per cent for existing power plants. This is equivalent to reducing the mercury emissions by 50 per cent.
Emissions will be set for new plants based on how much mercury can be captured by the best affordable technology.
The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment approved the draft standards in principle during their meeting in Halifax on June 27.
Copies of the draft standards are available on the Environment and Labour website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/aq . They are also available in the department's library on the fifth floor at 5151 Terminal Rd., Halifax.
Written comments should be sent by Monday, Aug. 29, to:
The Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour Air Quality Branch P.O. Box 697 Halifax, N.S. B3J 2T8 E-mail: [email protected]
All comments will be considered before a final decision is made. Ministers anticipate final endorsement of the standards at their next meeting in the fall.