Assessing the impacts of local deposition of mercury associated with coal-fired power plants

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Terrence M. Sullivan1, Biays S. Bowerman1, Jay W. Adams1, Carlee Ogeka2, Fred Lipfert3, and Scott A. Renninger4. (1) Environmental Sciences Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, PO Box 5000, Upton, NY 11973, (2) Environmental Services, Brookhaven National Laboratory, PO Box 5000, Upton, NY 11973, (3) Independent Consultant to Brookhaven National Laboratory, 23 Carl Court, Northport, NY 11768, (4) National Energy Technology Laboratory, U. S. Department of Energy, PO Box 880, 3610 Collins Ferry Rd., Morgantown, WV 26507-0880
Mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants will be limited by regulations. However, there is still debate over whether the limits should be on a plant specific basis or a nationwide basis. Computer modeling suggests that increased local deposition will occur on a local (few Km) to regional scale (tens of Km) with the increase being a small percentage of background deposition on the regional scale. The models have a number of assumptions pertaining to deposition paramaters and there is uncertainty in the predicted deposition rates. In attempt to validate the modeled enhanced deposition, a field study was conducted around a power plant in the Midwest. Sample locations were based on deposition modeling and triplicate soil samples were collected at 51 locations in November, 2003 and are being analyzed. Results of the analysis will be presented.