California Mercury Reduction Project

This is a draft project concept paper for discussion purposes.

Objectives:

• Reduce mercury use in California
• Conduct a successful project that coordinates activities by local, state, and federal government environmental programs throughout California

Approach:

• Voluntary participation (self-selected action-oriented agencies)
• Agency teamwork approach (model is Bay Area Water Pollution Prevention Group)
• More cost-effective for agency participants than independent local programs
• Projects/products and implementation training available to any interested entity (via Internet and mechanisms like joint print runs)

Phase 1: Project Development-Develop California Mercury Action Plan (6 months to 1 year)

• Develop California-specific background information: why mercury is a problem, common mercury uses, alternatives.
• Develop a menu of mercury reduction measures.
• Create campaign steering committee.
• Using the menu, create a draft action plan, working with the campaign steering committee. Plan concept: a list of 3-6 statewide mercury use reduction programs, an element calling for increasing public awareness of mercury hazards, and a model mercury reduction policy statement that can be adopted by agencies participating in the project.
• Set up an e-mail listserver and a web page for the project.
• Hold workshops at meetings of key groups:
• Obtain input from all groups to refine the draft action plan
• Develop support for implementing the campaign
• Identify leaders for various projects
• Seek partnerships (e.g., with government agency associations and business and environmental groups)

• Seek endorsement of the final plan from groups and individual agencies.
• Seek funding for individual campaign elements and for campaign management/coordination.

• Create steering committees for each campaign element; develop workplans.
• Coordinate overall campaign to ensure continued action and success. Monitor and evaluate progress regularly.

U.S. EPA, California EPA agencies (DTSC, CIWMB), Local Governments

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