1. BACWA – Leading the way to protect our Bay Mercury Watershed Permit Special Provisions BACWA Annual Members Meeting January 29, 2009 Michele Pla Melody LaBella Monica Oakley

2. Regional Solutions to Impairment Watershed Permit Watershed Permit –Group mass limit –Individual limits –Triggers of mass and concentration Special Provisions Special Provisions –Studies to improve our knowledge –Risk Reduction Communication –Regional Dental Program –Regional (Joint) Annual Report

3. Conduct or Cause to Be Conducted The conceptual model - all mercury was equally bioavailable. The conceptual model - all mercury was equally bioavailable. Methyl mercury known to accumulate in the food web Methyl mercury known to accumulate in the food web RMP Mercury Strategy approved in October 2007 RMP Mercury Strategy approved in October 2007 Studies and monitoring to be conducted 2008 – 2012 Studies and monitoring to be conducted 2008 – 2012 RMP will spend approximately $250,000 annually to address Mercury Strategy needs RMP will spend approximately $250,000 annually to address Mercury Strategy needs

4. Collaborative Research to Learn More about Effluent Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) 2008-2009 study “Estimation of Mercury Bioaccumulation Potential from Wastewater Treatment Plants in Receiving Waters, Volumes I and II” Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) 2008-2009 study “Estimation of Mercury Bioaccumulation Potential from Wastewater Treatment Plants in Receiving Waters, Volumes I and II” “as low or lower than bioavailable mercury from other common sources” “as low or lower than bioavailable mercury from other common sources”

5. Develop and Implement or Participate in Risk Reduction Reduce mercury-related risks to humans and quantify the results Reduce mercury-related risks to humans and quantify the results –Include public –Provide Progress Report Year 2 Year 2 –report describing the details –Schedule and public involvement Begin Implementation in Year 3 Begin Implementation in Year 3 We are not alone in this requirement We are not alone in this requirement –WB/DPH; WSPA and BASMAA

6. Mercury Watershed Permit – Dental Amalgam Program

7. Metrics Included for Evaluating Dental Amalgam Programs 85% dental office participation in a dental amalgam program by March 1, 2013 of all “amalgam practitioners” in the Bay Area 85% dental office participation in a dental amalgam program by March 1, 2013 of all “amalgam practitioners” in the Bay Area Estimate of the dental amalgam collected Estimate of the dental amalgam collected

8. 85% Dental Office Participation in a Dental Amalgam Program What constitutes a Program? What constitutes a Program? –Mandatory or voluntary BMP Program –Must be measurable Permits, inspections and/or surveys (written or phone) Permits, inspections and/or surveys (written or phone) Survey being created for use by agencies Survey being created for use by agencies How to define a dental office? How to define a dental office? –Uses or removes amalgam –Count by individual “amalgam practitioner”

9. Estimate of the Dental Amalgam Collected Must include a description of the basis for estimation Must include a description of the basis for estimation Tool will be developed to estimate amalgam diverted from the wastewater stream Tool will be developed to estimate amalgam diverted from the wastewater stream BACWA member survey about their programs will be sent out later this year to establish baseline (to know how close we are now to 85%) BACWA member survey about their programs will be sent out later this year to establish baseline (to know how close we are now to 85%)

10. BAPPG’s Support of Dental Amalgam Program Requirements in the Bay Area Held full-day workshop in December 2006 on “How to Create a Dental Amalgam Program” Held full-day workshop in December 2006 on “How to Create a Dental Amalgam Program” –Resources from this workshop are still available Held ½-day dental office inspection training in January 2009 Held ½-day dental office inspection training in January 2009 –Will continue these trainings, as needed

11. Mercury Watershed Permit – Group Reporting

12. Implementation Schedule November 1, 2007 Watershed Permit adopted by Regional Water Board March 1, 2008 Watershed Permit went into effect February 1, 2009 Deadline to indicate participation in group reporting February 15, 2009 Deadline to provide data and information to group April 1, 2009 Deadline for group to provide compiled report to Regional Water Board

13. Elements of BACWA Group Reporting Program Data and information forms in electronic format Data and information forms in electronic format Detailed instructions for forms Detailed instructions for forms Question and answer document to address more complex components Question and answer document to address more complex components Letter template for indicating participation in BACWA group Letter template for indicating participation in BACWA group

16. Example 1 – One sample per month

17. Example 2 – Multiple samples per month

18. Example 3 – Recycled Water for Irrigation

19. Tips for Filling Out Part 2 (Data) Tips for Filling Out Part 2 (Data) If you believe there may be inaccurate, or insufficient, data in ERS, report your data in Part 2. If you believe there may be inaccurate, or insufficient, data in ERS, report your data in Part 2. Recognize that the “Weighted Annual Mass Emission” is an estimate (as designed) Recognize that the “Weighted Annual Mass Emission” is an estimate (as designed) Make sure your “Weighted Annual Mass Emission” is a relatively accurate estimate of the mass discharged during the year Make sure your “Weighted Annual Mass Emission” is a relatively accurate estimate of the mass discharged during the year Before submitting, compare your “Weighted Annual Mass Emission” with the mass trigger indicated in the mercury watershed permit. If your mass emission is greater than the trigger, be sure to check your results. Before submitting, compare your “Weighted Annual Mass Emission” with the mass trigger indicated in the mercury watershed permit. If your mass emission is greater than the trigger, be sure to check your results.

21. Potential Pollution Prevention Activities Potential Pollution Prevention Activities Dental amalgam program Dental amalgam program Mercury thermometer exchange Mercury thermometer exchange Fluorescent light bulb collection program Fluorescent light bulb collection program Vehicle Service Facility program Vehicle Service Facility program Public education activities which include a mercury pollution prevention message Public education activities which include a mercury pollution prevention message

22. Questions ?