NRCM has successfully led efforts to eliminate many sources of mercury within the state.
1989 Mercury discharges to water prohibited; ambient water quality criteria set
1994 Maine's BOH issues first in the nation statewide fish consumption advisories for lakes.
1997 Maine Legislature calls for a report and plan of action to control mercury pollution. The State's goal is "to ensure that, over time, Maine people and wildlife are able to enjoy the full use of the state's waters and fisheries" and to "make Maine's fish safe to eat and to protect our wildlife and other resources."
1998 New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers adopted a landmark goal to "virtually eliminate" releases of mercury from human activities into the environment. They also created an action plan to eliminate 50% of emissions by 2003.
Before 2000 Four municipal garbage burners report achieving mercury emission reductions of more than 90%, meeting or exceeding federal limits, or where inapplicable, meeting equally stringent state limits
2000 Passed into law a statute lowering mercury emission standards statewide (a maximum of 100 pounds after 1/1/00 and 50 pounds after 1/1/04.)
Implemented voluntary mercury manometer replacement program for dairy farmers collecting all 26 units (w/ 26 lbs of Hg)
Shut down of the HoltraChem Manufacturing Co. chlor-alkli plant, the last such plant in New England that used a mercury-cell process to produce chlorine gas and caustic soda and the largest source of mercury air emissions in Maine.
2001 Reduced mercury from hospitals through: 1) a voluntary pollution prevention agreement (b/n State, NRCM and Maine Hospital Assoc and 39 members); 2) legislation requiring disclosure of mercury in products sold to hospitals; and 3) closing of medical waste incinerators
Passed a law banning the sale and distribution of mercury-added thermostats (38 MRSA § 1661-C, sub-§ 5.)
2002 Enacted a law to require automobile manufacturers to recover mercury-containing switches from vehicles before they are scrapped.
An agreement reached between NRCM and two businesses, providing for the safe removal and storage of 185,000 pounds of surplus mercury from HoltraChem.
2002 Maine achieves 65% mercury emissions reductions since 1998 and the region achieves 55% reductions. (Both exceed goals of 50% reduction in mercury emissions.)
2003 Passed legislation requiring dentists to install amalgam separators that collect 98% of mercury from dental wastewater.
2003 Law passed that bans the sale of most mercury-added switches, relays, and measuring devices.
Wild Oats (the chain of natural food stores), after a collaborative dialogue beginning at its Portland, Maine store, becomes the first national chain to post advisories in all of its stores over mercury levels in fish.
2004 Law passed to set up a system to recycle defunct computers and televisions, requiring that the manufacturers arrange to recover the units and safeguard their toxic contents (including lead, mercury and cadmium).
Law passed to triple the number of outlets where contractors can take mercury-thermostats for collection and recycling.
Law passed to study the options for banning or restricting the sale of mercury button cell batteries, currently an exception to Maine's mercury product ban.
U.S. District court upholds the constitutionality of Maine's auto switch law against a legal challenge brought by the Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The Court rejected all claims asserting that the burdens of the law are reasonably "imposed on manufacturers in recognition of the fact that the need for a mercury switch recovery program existed solely by virtue of the manufacturers' incorporation of these mercury-laden components in their automobiles for roughly ten years after the industry's cognizance of the mercury disposal problem."
2006 Law passed to set recycling goals and increase manufacturer responsibility for the safe collection and recycling of old mercury thermostats. The law requires manufacturers of mercury-containing thermostats to provide an incentive worth at least $5.00 for each mercury thermostat brought to a state-approved collection site.
Law passed to ban the sale of mercury-added button cell batteries and products containing such batteries after June 30, 2011. These batteries will soon be replaced with effective and affordable mercury-free alternatives.