I need to correct at least one of the quotes attributed to me, that utilized the term “go after the industry with two fists.” This language is foreign to me, and I would not have made that comment. I also want to correct an impression that suggested that mercury concentrations in the air over Elko and Salt Lake City would present a direct human health risk.

I do not believe that a significant health risk exists from breathing air that is downwind from these mines. Most human exposure to mercury is from eating fish, in which the mercury has been converted to methyl mercury and taken up in the fish via a food chain.

The article made a strong point about the lack of regulation on mercury from mining and the large amount of mercury that has been emitted and continues to be emitted, although at lower amounts each year currently than in the past. Unlike the coal-burning industry, effectively no regulation is in place to measure and regulate mercury from gold mines in Nevada.

What exists at present is a Voluntary Mercury Reduction Program, developed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Nevada, in cooperation with four of the large mining companies in Nevada. While not a true regulatory program, this effort has resulted in reductions of atmospheric release of mercury, particularly from the Jerritt Canyon Mine in Elko County, which, up until 2001, was the single largest source of atmospheric mercury in the United States, based on the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory.

The 90 percent reduction that has been achieved from this mine is noteworthy. Additionally, Barrick has taken a strong leadership role within the gold-mining industry to continue to reduce mercury emissions.

However, the project that we completed recently also shows that mercury atmospheric emissions are poorly measured, and the limited information that is produced is of uneven quality, at best. Some mines that are known to produce over 1,000 pounds of mercury byproduct per year report effectively no mercury releases to the atmosphere, which is highly unlikely. Other mines report atmospheric emissions in 2003 based on limited data taken in 2001.

Clearly, the industry can do a much better job, and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection needs to establish a regulatory program that requires much more accurate reporting of mercury emissions, and technology-based emission control standards that are effective.

All of the interested groups - industry, regulators or the public - agree that further discussions are required to resolve the mercury issue from mining. The downwinders in Utah, Idaho, and states beyond all need to follow these discussions and apply appropriate encouragement to ensure that mercury is properly managed from gold mining.

---

Glenn C. Miller is a professor and director of the graduate program in environmental sciences and health at the University of Nevada, Reno.