See Current News About Mercury Pollution

Mercury Poisoning of
our Aquatic Life
and Environment

Airborne mercury is raining on Wisconsin's lakes, streams and waters.  Former DNR chief George Meyer told the January, 2001 Wisconsin Stewardship Network conference attendees that "virtually every lake in Wisconsin may end up with a mercury advisory" when the federal EPA finishes its new analysis of mercury fallout numbers.  Now his prediction has come true.

But we can do something about it.  The Wisconsin Stewardship Network is supporting new regulations aimed at reining in mercury pollution.  

The WSN supports a 90% reduction in mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants and other large industrial sources to help make fish from Wisconsin waters safe to eat for everyone in the future.

A graphic illustration of the mercury pollution cycle can be found by clicking here.

Latest Documents:

sportsmen lead national coalition calling for stronger mercury emission controls - June 22, 2004

• Fishing Coalition Calls For Reduction In Mercury Pollution - Groups from six states send letter to EPA.
• State Lawmakers Call For Tougher Mercury Standards - Wisconsin lawmakers join with Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan and Ohio counterparts in push for regional cooperation for controlling toxic poison in fish and waters.   [16kb pdf file.  If you can't read this article, we will send you a text version if you contact us.] 
• Bush Proposes Weak Mercury Pollution Control Rules - President ignoring law and instead going soft on polluters, says Clean Wisconsin. [9kb pdf file.  If you can't read this article, we will send you a text version if you contact us.] 
• Poll Shows Overwhelming Support For Mercury Controls - WI public wants stringent regulations curbing mercury pollution. [9kb pdf file.  If you don't have Adobe's latest pdf file reader, click here for a free copy.  We will also send you a text version of this article if you contact us.] 
• Mercury Debate Draws GOP Fire - Legislators rap DNR over handling of  issue.
• Groups Call On DNR Board To Support Mercury Control Rules.
  • Statement   from the WSN and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.[5kb pdf file.]
  • Letter   to board from Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.[51kb pdf file.]
  • Statement from the Sierra Club.
  • Statement from Midwest Environmental Advocates.
• Tougher Stand Needed Against Mercury Threat - Importance of national and international action does not justify the failure of Wisconsin lawmakers to approve a state mercury reduction plan, editorializes the Wisconsin State Journal. [17kb pdf file.  If you don't have Adobe's latest pdf file reader, click here for a free copy.  We will also send you a text version of this article if you contact us.] 
• Mercury May Be Less Toxic In Fish - But researcher, critics not advocating end to warnings, yet.
• Mercury Rules Need Involvement From Other States - Joint chairs of legislative committee want wider participation. [23kb pdf file.  If you don't have Adobe's latest pdf file reader, click here for a free copy.  We will also send you a text version of this article if you contact us.] 
• Assembly Panel Asks DNR To Rethink Mercury Rules - Capital Times covers the hearing and Rep's Black and Miller condemn the committee vote. [If you don't have Adobe's latest pdf file reader, click here for a free copy.  We will also send you a text version of these articles if you contact us.]
• Assembly Review Committee Rejects New DNR Mercury Control Rules - Republican dominated committee adopts utility position. [42kb pdf file.  If you don't have Adobe's latest pdf file reader, click here for a free copy.  We will also send you a text version of this article if you contact us.]
• DNR's Proposed Mercury Limits Called Crucial For Environment, But Panned For Cost - WiBusinesss.com reports on the legislative hearing.
• Citizens Ask For Mercury Pollution Limits At Hearing - Reductions about health and safety, not too much regulation.
• Legislative Committee To Review Proposed Mercury Reg's - Aug. 13 public hearing set for Capitol.
• Threat From Coal-burning Power Plants Is Serious - Time for policy to catch up with science, says former Senator Gaylord Nelson.
• Mercury Pollution Rules Approved - Unanimous approval from Natural Resources Board, according to Green Bay Press-Gazette.  And read the LaCrosse Tribune's and  the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's version of the story.
• State Should Adopt Tough Mercury Rules - Natural Resources Board should strengthen rules, according to Wisconsin State Journal editorial.  [If you don't have Adobe's latest pdf file reader, click here for a free copy.  We will also send you a text version of this article if you contact us.]
• Plan Will Cap Mercury Output - Contamination considered top water quality issue, says Appleton Post-Crescent. 
• An Assessment Of The DNR's Proposed Mercury Pollution Control Rules - WSN mercury coordinator Marcus Looze rates the reg's.
• Mercury Limits Are Good For State - Proposed DNR reg's "warrant the support of all of us," according to Sheboygan Press editorial.
• DNR Rules Target Mercury - Proposal aims to cut emissions, make fish safer to eat.  And view a new TV ad running in the Milwaukee and Madison area about mercury pollution from coal power plants.
• Fish Advisories Need To Reach All Nationalities - Better job could be done, according to Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Great Fishing Dilemma:  When And When Not To Eat Your Catch - Plus some tasty fish recipes for the season's opening day.
• UN Report Calls For Lower Mercury Emissions - Health threat from eating tainted fish more serious than previously thought.
• U.S. Set To Oppose Global Mercury Control Efforts - Leaked document suggests U.S. will work to thwart mercury pollution limits at international conference next month.
• Mercury Video Wins International Award - Alex in Wonderland follows young angler's discovery of mercury in his fish.
• New Poll Shows Strong Support For Controlling Mercury Pollution - 73% want reductions in mercury pollution.
• Wisconsin Utilities Rank As State's Top Mercury Polluter - EPA report documents sources and amounts.
• PSC Fumbles Mercury Rule Position - Gaffes and questionable process plague Commission's stance.
• Utility Reduces Mercury Emissions - Early study shows sharp cuts at power plant, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story.
• Voluntary Mercury Pollution Controls In Minnesota Showing Little Impact - State utilities have backed similar plan for controlling mercury poisoning of Wisconsin's waters.
• Milwaukee Rainfall Contains Hazardous Mercury Levels - New report documents mercury-tainted rain at amounts 10 times higher than those considered safe by EPA and read the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's story on the discovery.
• Sheybogen Press Calls For Strong Mercury Rules - Editorial supports strongest feasible rules on "a vitally important conservation issue."
• DNR Hearings On Mercury Rule Begin - Opponents and supporters speak out at first two hearings, three more set to come.
• Industry Attacks State Mercury Pollution Rule - Opponents seek to derail effort to clean Wisconsin's air and water.
• State Toughens Fish Consumption Advisory For More Wisconsin Lakes - 92 inland lakes contain mercury at levels demanding stronger advisories (this link will open in a new window) and read the Green Bay Press Gazette's account of the matter.
• DNR Announces Meetings And Hearings On Mercury Pollution Controls - Public participation essential to strong rule.
• DNR Board May Adopt Historic Mercury Pollution Controls - DNR staff recommending that mercury pollution be cut by 90% over the next 15 years.
• Help Stop Mercury Laced Fish - Card suggests actions to end mercury poisoning of Wisconsin's waters as May 5 fishing opener approaches. 
• State Tightens Advisory On Fish - Any caught in inland lakes may exceed limit of mercury.
• EPA Moves To Limit Mercury Pollution From Power Plants - Agency begins development of reg's to reduce toxic contamination of fish and water.
DNR Board Supports Reduction In Mercury Emissions - Anglers and enviro's unite behind petition calling for a 90% reduction from state mercury emitters by 2010.
More Wisconsin Lakes Contaminated By Mercury - 11 more lakes added to fish consumption advisory list bringing total to 341.
Reducing Mercury Contamination In Lake Superior - Clean energy seminar will focus on lowering mercury pollution.
Mercury in the Upper Midwest - This report from the Izaak Walton League is a must read for anglers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan.  Click here to see a chart showing how mercury enters the food chain and gets into the flesh of fish and humans.
Vulcan Eruptions - A single chemical plant is responsible for 20% of the state's airborne mercury releases.
Wisconsin Groups Endorse Mercury Report - news release from supporting organizations on controlling mercury contamination of state's waters.
• "Troubled Waters: Mercury in Wisconsin's Lakes and Fish" - full report from Wisconsin's Environmental Decade.
• Mercury Rain is poisoning Wisconsin waters and gamefish. Some of Wisconsin's top fishing holes are contaminated with mercury. Find out what's behind this problem and what we can do about it.