“Through the efforts of the Michigan Mercury Pollution Prevention Task Force and other collaborative mercury reduction partnerships, we hope to avoid any potential dangers which may threaten the future of the Michigan sport or commercial fishery, its wildlife or its citizens” said Mr. G. Tracy Mehan, Director, Office of the Great Lakes and M2P2 Task Force Chair. “The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is asking all potential sources and/or users of mercury containing products, to voluntarily cease non-essential uses and to implement mercury reduction and other pollution prevention measures” he also said.

The Michigan Mercury Action Plan (MMAP) committed to the formation of a ‘special’ Michigan Mercury Pollution Prevention (M2P2) Task Force. The M2P2 Task Force first convened in August of 1994 with Mr. G. Tracy Mehan, Director, Office of the Great Lakes, serving as Task Force Chair. The Task Force was comprised of representation from industry, trade associations, environmental, government, and academic groups focusing upon seven sectors which included: general public, healthcare, dental, automotive, electrical users/manufacturers, chemical users/manufacturers, and utilities. Through their monthly deliberations and with sub-group support, a final report was developed containing over seventy (70) consensual pollution prevention (P2) recommendations (pdf file).

The M2P2 Task Force’s Final Report was released on Earth Day (April 22, 1996), endorsed by the Governor, John Engler, and given to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for implementation. In December 1996, DEQ’s, Environmental Assistance Division (EAD), prepared a draft Implementation Strategy for the Final Report, listing lead entities and anticipated time requirements for implementation for each of the seventy (70) recommendations. On February 24, 1997 Director, Russell Harding officially endorsed the M2P2 Final Plan Implementation Strategy (Downloadable Word 6.0 document size=243k) and directed DEQ staff to undertake the identified actions to accomplish the recommendations of the Final Report, within budgetary and resource constraints.

Progress information has been condensed, summarized, and is now available by downloading the M2P2 Final Progress Report; (70 page pdf).