Report of Ad Hoc Committee on Mercury Studies

Background

June 2015 Roundtable discussion on mercury (Hg) issues

From Roundtable discussion Ad Hoc Committee appointed to:

1) Evaluate what is known about the sources of Hg that impact fish in the Ohio River2) Make recommendations to Commission on need for additional information and means of collection3) Process steps for evaluation…

Background

Process Steps for Evaluation (cont’d.)

o Gather and evaluate what we know about Hg that impacts fish in the Ohio River

o Identify what we don’t know about sources of Hg that impact fish

o Identify potential value of addressing what we do not know and alternate methods for dealing with missing information

Background

Define Information Gap

Identify potential value of addressing what we don’t know Determine alternate methods dealing with missing information

Hg knowns• • • • •

Hg unknowns• ?• ?• ?• ?• ?

Ad Hoc Committee

Members: Commissioners Bruny, Elmaraghy, FitzGerald, Frevert,

Potesta, Kupke Erich Emery, Corps Tim Henry, USEPA Eric Nygaard, OEPA Rob Reash, Power Industry Advisory Committee Shivi Selvaratnam, IDEM USGS representative has been requested.

WANTS AND OBJECTIVE

Wantso Not costly, endless studyo Additional data collection only where necessaryo Accurately answer some questions regarding the

threat Hg presents to the Ohio River Determine an “ action plan to diminish that threat”

Committee Objectiveo Recommendation by Hg Committee at June 2016

Commission meeting

Progress and Approach

Date Action

Aug. 18, 2015 Preliminary approach options discussed(following public hearing in Huntington, W.V.)

Aug. 20 & 21 LADCO Hg Conference in Indianapolis

Sept. 21 Committee Call

Oct. 19 Questions (What do you want to know?) due to Jason

November Committee call re: questions prioritization

Nov./Dec. Committee consensus on “knows and don’t knows”

Progress and Approach (cont’d)

Date Action

Dec. 31, 2015 ORSANCO/Jason “Information collection” defining the gap

Jan. 2016 Committee call on addressing the gap

Feb. 2016 Commission meeting progress report

Mar. 2016 Committee review of approach options in prep for April Program & Finance Committee briefing

April 2016 Program & Finance Committee briefing

June 2016 Commissioner recommendation from Mercury Committee

Questions?