Advisory Committee on Mercury Pollution
Meeting #28: Monday, May 14, 2001
Time: 9:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.
Location: Conference Room, Environmental Assistance Division
Waterbury State Complex, Waterbury, Vermont
MINUTES
Members Present:
William Bress, Vermont Department of Health
Ric Erdheim, National Electrical Manufacturers Association
Guests Present:
Mary Canales, School of Nursing, University of Vermont
Thomas Benoit, Agency of Natural Resources, Environmental Assistance
Laura Routh, Addison County Solid Waste Management District
Karen Knaebel, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Environmental Assistance
The Committee members and interested parties gathered in the Conference Room of the Environmental Assistance Division in the Waterbury
State Complex in Waterbury, Vermont and the meeting was called to order by Karen Knaebel who was sitting in for Rich Phillips in his absence.
Agenda Item 1-
Accept minutes of the April 30, 2001 meetings and changes to today’s agenda.
Approval of the minutes was delayed until the June meeting.
Agenda Item 2-
Detailed review of work plan projects.
It was suggested that the members review Neil Kamman’s suggestions from the previous meeting and any comments be supplied by
the members via e-mail prior to the June meeting.
The Committee was briefly updated on the current efforts of the M.E.R.C. Committee from the minutes of its May 2, 2001 meeting:
- Advisory members and interested parties were shown pictures that were taken of the thermometers and other mercury devices that were collected
from the February "Catch the Fever" exchange.
- An appliance manual for the removal of mercury devices from appliances is being developed and consideration for a future training is in the
works.
- The MERC Committee is evaluating effective methods for auto switch removal or replacement initiatives.
- Suggestion that Greg Dana of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers be contacted for assistance.
- Hospital surveys are still being collected from Vermont’s hospitals to determine next steps in working with hospitals.
- The Health Department will be supplying EAD with 6,500 brochures which relate to fish consumption for women who are pregnant, plan to become
pregnant or nursing a baby to put into newborn packets to be distributed at hospitals. Blue Cross Blue Shield has donated money that would provide
for 1000 digital thermometers and there are hopes to obtain the additional funding to supply these packets for one year (aprox. 6,500 births
in Vermont each year). EAD is working with the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Care Systems to obtain funding for this project.
- Other efforts discussed by the M.E.R.C. Committee are covered in the attached minutes.
Agenda Item 3-
Discuss distribution of fish advisories at state fishing access areas.
Bill Bress brought in 150 of the current fish advisories that will be given to Neil Kamman. Suggestion that Neil update the Committee
on the distribution of these advisories at the June meeting.
Agenda Item 4-
Update on manometer funding.
Mike Loner had given an update on the manometer progress at the M.E.R.C. Committee meeting on May 2nd and advised that
a new grant will be submitted to the Lake Champlain Basin Program for completion of the manometer exchange program. If they receive this grant,
they predict that they would be able to complete the removal and replacements of the remaining manometers in the state.
Agenda Item 5-
Other topics not on agenda.
No other items.
Agenda Item 6-
Set date and agenda for next meeting.
The next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Mercury Pollution is to be held on Friday, June 22, 2001 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The meeting will be held in the Conference Room of the Environmental Assistance Division in the Waterbury State Complex in Waterbury, Vermont.
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