"Ohio River Panel To Ease Mercury Requirements"

"The eight-state commission that sets water quality standards for the Ohio River has recommended relaxing its rules for mercury and certain other toxic pollutants that concentrate as they move through the food web.

That change, if approved by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, would indefinitely put on hold a long-planned ban on the use of "mixing zones," or dilution, for determining whether a facility complies with water quality standards for those types of pollutants. Mixing zones would then be handled through permits issued by states, which would be encouraged to eliminate them "as soon as practicable," but with no deadlines.

ORSANCO staff emphasized they have only issued a proposal. "A final decision will be made by the commission after considering all the public comments," said Jason Heath, assistant chief engineer for the commission."

James Bruggers reports for the Louisville Courier-Journal March 11, 2015.