DNR awarded two year grant to study mercury emissions

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DNR awarded two year, $1.6 million EPA grant to study mercury emissions from taconite processing plants
(Released October 18, 2010)


In an important step forward for mercury research in the state, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Division of Lands and Minerals was awarded a two-year, $1.6 million competitive grant from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The money will fund research into controlling atmospheric mercury emissions from taconite processing plants.

An additional $400,000 in research funding has also been provided by the taconite industry and the DNR’s Environmental Cooperative Research Program. The mercury research budget for the two-year period is $2 million.

The research will provide an important step as the industry strives to reach its eventual goal of a 75 percent reduction in atmospheric mercury emissions, which is needed for state and International (Lake Superior Basin) mercury emission reduction goals to be met.

Most Minnesota taconite processing plants were designed and built during the 1960s, before mercury emissions were considered an environmental concern.

However today, the taconite industry accounts for approximately 20 percent of the total atmospheric mercury emitted in Minnesota and about 50 percent of the mercury emitted from companies in the Lake Superior Basin.

The DNR submitted the proposal to the EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Program, with assistance from the Minnesota Taconite Mercury Control Advisory Committee. This is a consortium of engineers and researchers from state agencies, universities and the six taconite processing facilities in the state.

The advisory committee will direct, coordinate, and oversee the research. The group plans to test five technologies being used by other industries to determine technologies that are most adaptable to the iron mining industry.