GLIN==> Establishing a Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Network

For Immediate Release

June 14, 2011

Scientists Back Collins Mercury Bill

Yesterday, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) re-introduced a bill to establish a
Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Network. Since 2003, members of
the scientific community have been calling for a national network to track
mercury in the environment and are strong supporters of Collins' bill. With
fish consumption advisories in every state in the nation and scarce
monitoring to track how mercury levels in the environment are changing over
time, the time has come to advance this common sense legislation. The
National Mercury Monitoring Network (MercNet) established by this bill would
systematically track mercury in the environment to help safeguard our
fisheries, protect public health, and evaluate the impact of policy
decisions. 

In October 2010, the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) adopted a resolution
calling for comprehensive, collaborative, long-term mercury monitoring and
research programs within and outside of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River
basin. The GLC and Biodiversity Research Institute, together with the office
of Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) who is sponsoring a similar House
Bill, have organized a briefing on the National Mercury Monitoring Bill
today, June 14, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. EDT at the Capitol Hill Visitors Center. 

In a related effort, the GLC, through its U.S. EPA-funded Great Lakes Air
Deposition program, is collaborating with the Biodiversity Research
Institute on synthesizing the most relevant Great Lakes mercury research. A
summary report is scheduled to be released in fall 2011.

Available for comment:

David Evers, Ph.D. - Executive Director, Biodiversity Research Institute,
Gorham, ME

Expertise: mercury concentrations and effects in birds and other wildlife;
MercNet

Contact:  <tel:207-839-7600> 207-839-7600;  <mailto:david.evers at briloon.org>
david.evers at briloon.org

 

Charles Driscoll, Ph.D. - University Professor of Civil & Environmental
Engineering, Syracuse University, NY

Expertise: mercury sources and cycling in the environment; MercNet 

Contact:  <tel:315-443-3434> 315-443-3434;  <mailto:ctdrisco at syr.edu>
ctdrisco at syr.edu

 

James Wiener, Ph.D. - Wisconsin Distinguished Professor, University of
Wisconsin-La Crosse

Expertise: mercury in fish and aquatic food webs; MercNet

Contact:  <tel:608-785-6454> 608-785-6454;  <mailto:wiener.jame at uwlax.edu>
wiener.jame at uwlax.edu

 

David Gay, Ph.D. - Program Director, National Atmospheric Deposition
Program, University of Illinois

Expertise: monitoring of mercury deposition; MercNet

Contact:  <tel:217-244-0462> 217-244-0462;  <mailto:dgay at illinois.edu>
dgay at illinois.edu

 

Elsie Sunderland, Ph.D. - Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA

Expertise: human exposure and health; mercury cycling in the oceans

Contact:  <tel:617-384-8832> 617-384-8832 or  <tel:617-384-8832>
617-384-8832;  <mailto:ems at seas.harvard.edu> ems at seas.harvard.edu

 

Anna Soehl, M.S. - Project Manager, Great Lakes Commission, Ann Arbor, MI

Expertise: Great Lakes focus

Contact:  <tel:734-971-9135> 734-971-9135;  <mailto:asoehl at glc.org>
asoehl at glc.org

Christine Manninen
Communications / GLIN Director
 <http://www.great-lakes.net> http://www.great-lakes.net
Great Lakes Commission
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Office 734.971.9135

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