SOFIA - Poster - The South Florida Mercury Science Program

Search SOFIA:

Projects

Results

South Florida Restoration Science Forum

Synthesis

Information

Personnel

About SOFIA

USGS Science Strategy

Data

publications > poster > the south florida mercury science program > conclusions

The South Florida Mercury Science Program

Conclusions

Information gathered to date supports the judgment that removal of nutrients from runoff in man-made marshes will not significantly increase the mercury problem in the Everglades. This work is continuing.

More work must be done to understand the relative contributions of local and global mercury air sources, the role of microscopic plant and animal communities in mercury methylation and bioaccumulation, and the effects of exposure on wildlife. Control strategies remain to be developed.

When this work is complete, resource managers should be able to develop the appropriate mix of source controls, changes in water management, and changes to water composition to reduce mercury concentrations to safe levels in the Everglades.

The anticipated results of the South Florida Mercury Science Program are relevant to the legislative and regulatory deadlines given in the following table.

Mercury Related Legislative & Regulatory Deadlines

1994 NPDES Permit for the ENR Project (CWA)

1996 EIS for the Everglades Construction Project (CWA)

1996 404 Permit for the Everglades Construction Project (CWA)

OCT 1997 404 Permit for STA 6 (CWA)
STA-6 NPDES Permit & 402 Certification (CWA, 403 F.S.)

SEP 1998 USACE Central and Southern Florida Restudy Plan and Draft Report & Draft EIS (WRDA, NEPA)

JAN 1999 STA-1W, 2, & 5 404 Permits (CWA)
STA-1W, 2, & 5 NPDES Permits, 402 Certification (CWA, Ch. 403 F.S.)

JUL 1999 USACOE Final Restudy Report and EIS due to Congress (WRDA, NEPA)

DEC 1999 Report to Governor and Legislature on status of mercury studies (EFA)

DEC 2001 Phosphorus criterion rulemaking for Everglades Protection Area and EAA (EFA)

OCT 2003 STA-3 & 4 404 Permits (CWA)
STA-3 & 4 NPDEX Permits and 402 Certification (CWA, Ch. 403 F.S.)

DEC 2003 Revised water quality standards for the Everglades Protection Area & EAA (EFA)

2004 USEPA approval of water quality standards for the Everglades Protection Area & EAA canals (CWA)

Acronyms

WRDA Federal Water Resource Development Act

CWA Federal Clean Water Act

NEPA Federal National Environmental Policy Act

EFA Florida Everglades Forever Act - Ch. 373 F.S. Ch. 403 F.S.: Chapter 403, Florida Statutes

STA Stormwater Treatment Area

EAA Everglades Agricultural Area

For more information contact:

FDEP Tom Atkeson (904) 921 - 0884

FGFWFC Scott Hardin (904) 488 - 4068

SFWMD Larry Fink (561) 687 - 6749

USEPA Dan Scheidt
Jerry Stober (706) 355 - 8724
(706) 355 - 8705

USGS Aaron Higer
David Krabbenhoft (561) 687 - 6560
(608) 821 - 3843

Related information:

SOFIA Project: Aquatic Cycling of Mercury in the Everglades (ACME)

| Disclaimer | Privacy Statement | Accessibility |

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
This page is: http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/posters/merc_program/conclusions.html
Comments and suggestions? Contact: Heather Henkel - Webmaster
Last updated: 03 January, 2005 @ 09:03 AM (KP)