Main Stakeholders
Mercury in water is a complex system of natural and anthropogenic causes both of which contribute to inputs, and are impacted by the outcomes of mercury discharges into water bodies. Freshwater uses for communities, business, and agriculture vary in application, but the need for pollutant free water makes stakeholders out of virtually every living organism sharing a watershed or ecosystem. To refine the list of stakeholders to those with the greatest influence on mercury loading and mitigation initiatives, the Oregon Environmental Council assembled the "Mercury Solution Team" consisting of representatives from 15 organizations in Oregon. Research and contributions from these organizations helped to compile the publication Mercury: On the Road to Zero, a 2001 strategic plan to eliminate mercury releases from human activities in Oregon by 2020.
Mercury Solution Team Participants:
Ash Grove Cement
Association of Clean Water Agencies (City of Eugene)
Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
Association of Mercury and Lighting Recyclers
Clean Water Services (Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies)
Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission
Marion County Solid Waste
Metro
Oregon Dental Association
Oregon Environmental Council
Drycreek Landfill INC.
Portland General Electric
Port of Portland
Willamette Riverkeeper
Zero Waste Alliance
Mercury Solution Team Participants:
Ash Grove Cement
Association of Clean Water Agencies (City of Eugene)
Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
Association of Mercury and Lighting Recyclers
Clean Water Services (Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies)
Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission
Marion County Solid Waste
Metro
Oregon Dental Association
Oregon Environmental Council
Drycreek Landfill INC.
Portland General Electric
Port of Portland
Willamette Riverkeeper
Zero Waste Alliance
Stakeholders Chosen for further analysis:
- Willamette Waterkeeper- Organization operating under the Principle of Public Trust Doctrine. They are in charge of water quality management and monitoring in the Willamette River Basin. Their goal is to have and maintain a healthy river for the public and wildlife to utilize.
- Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission (CRITFC)- A tribal commission was created to ensure a unified tribal voice in the management of fisheries, and as managers, to protect reserved treaty rights through the exercise of the inherent sovereign powers of the tribes. CRITFC provides four member tribes and the region with invaluable biological research, fisheries management, hydrology, and other science to support the protection and restoration of Columbia River Basin salmon, lamprey, and sturgeon. The vision of this goal is to reverse the decline of salmon, lamprey, and sturgeon and rebuild their numbers to full productivity.
- Ash Grove Cement Company - The Durkee, Oregon cement plant was once third in the nation for harmful mercury pollutant emissions which combine with carbon and hydrogen where it can then enter local bodies of water through rain. In order to meet the goal of 75-85% reductions of these harmful chemicals Ash Grove Cement has voluntarily entered into an agreement with Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality. They have developed new technologies and spent close to $20 million in order to meet reductions.
- Oregon Environmental Council - Founded in 1968, this non-profit, membership-based organization works for Oregon and it's citizens to promote clean air, water, healthy climate, unpolluted landscape and sustainable food and farms. The Oregon Environmental Council is a stakeholder in the issue of mercury in Oregon waters, spending over $100,000 annually for their "Clean and Plentiful Water" program through foundation, grant, and donation revenue of $1.3 million dollars. The goal of this program is to provide Oregonians with drinkable water, contaminant-free fish, mitigation for groundwater overuse and pollution, and sustainable water resources for farms and communities to promote resilience from climate change.
- Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers (ALMR) - Organization which helps to promote recycling of mercury
containing lights, batteries and electronics. They represent the
majority of waste management companies handling mercury bearing items in the
United States and across the world. It
is a network of companies that recycle, process, and collect wastes that contain
hazardous levels of mercury. Currently, 85%
of all light bulb recycling is carried out by this organization. Recovery of mercury to be reused in new
products instead of polluting the environment is a main goal. They also promote outreach and development of
mercury recycling programs to individuals, businesses, environmental groups and government agencies. The Lamp Recycling Outreach Project was created by the ALMR to help guide and educate the public on how to properly dispose of mercury containing items in Oregon (ALMR, 2013).