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Department of Ecology News Release - August 1, 2002
02-152
OLYMPIA - Seventy-eight pounds of liquid mercury and 73 pounds of mercury-contaminated debris have been successfully removed from dairies across the state as a direct result of a partnership between dairy farmers and state and local agencies.
Two years ago, the state Department of Agriculture, the Washington State University cooperative extension, Yakima County's household and small business waste-collection facility and the Department of Ecology joined forces to help dairy farmers replace mercury vacuum gauges with mercury-free, digital gauges. The gauges are used to monitor the vacuum level within the automated milking systems at the dairies.
The multi-agency team promoted the program, coordinated research into effective alternatives for the dairy farmers, established a rebate system that helped offset the cost and installation of mercury-free gauges, and arranged for the old mercury gauge to be removed.
"This project has been very satisfying because the groups worked so effectively to remove a large quantity of a toxic and persistent chemical that has the potential of leaking to the environment," said Holly Cushman, with Ecology's hazardous-waste program in Yakima. "The effort would not have been a success if the farmers hadn't responded so well."
The goal was to remove 83 mercury gauges. After two years, available funds allowed 122 mercury gauges to be removed from dairy farms in 18 counties by the grant's June 30 deadline.
Mercury is one of a number of high-risk contaminants that is being targeted by Washington state to reduce its presence in the environment.
"I have to credit the dairy farmers because, even though many were not aware that the mercury gauges had the potential of leaking toxic material into the environment, they quickly responded to our education efforts," said Cushman.
Spilled mercury can evaporate at room temperature and be inhaled, causing serious health problems in humans, fish and wildlife. Short-term mercury exposure symptoms include nausea, shortness of breath and bronchitis.
The mercury gauges were removed from dairies in Adams, Clark, Franklin, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Stevens, Whatcom, Whitman and Yakima counties.
Contact: Holly Cushman, Department of Ecology, Yakima office,
509-575-2724
Ned Zaugg, WSU Cooperative Extension, Snohomish County,
425-357-6018
Jim Pressley, Department of Agriculture, Olympia office,
360-902-1860
Mark Nedrow, Yakima County Public Works, 509-574-2472
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
