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Mercury is being deposited from the air to the Minnesota surface at a rate of 12.7 ug/m2/year.3 In order to estimate increases in the deposition rate of mercury from the operation of a crematory, the following inputs are used: the resulting ambient concentration of mercury (from SCREEN3 modeling), the velocity of mercury deposition (from Pratt et.al 1996)4, and the amount of mercury that is in the form that will deposit (from attachment 1). This calculation is shown in attachment 5, and was done for two scenarios: if2190 cremations were conducted in a year (8760 hours per year/4 hours per cremation), and if 300 cremations per year were conducted. Mercury (Hg) deposition to McCarron Lake is estimated to increase three-fold assuming 2190 cremations were performed each year. If 300 cremations were to be conducted, the increased deposition is calculated to be 3 ug/m2/year, or an increase of about 23%. Because the proposed crematories are new air emission sources, increased mercury in the environment is expected. The estimates made here in the memorandum have been conducted using a conservative screening dispersion model; refined modeling would likely lower these estimates. Remedies to low mercury releases are not simple. Because few crematories in the United States use add-on air pollution control equipment, control of mercury at these facilities is undeveloped in the United States. For example, EPA's testing of a crematory that had a wet scrubber that was thought to be a well-controlled unit showed that it was ineffective at controlling pollution; particulate matter control was 0%, mercury emissions control was inconsistent (sometimes 0%, sometimes 50%). Mortuary Science staff at the MDH are adamant that society will not tolerate teeth removal. Impacts on underground water reservoirs v I am in the process of discussing with staff from St. Paul Region Water Services about citizens' concerns on the treated water in the reservoir northeast of Roselawn Cemetery. Citizens expressed their concern as the "respiration" of air through the reservoir as the water level rises and falls. Attachment 1: Emission Test Evaluation of a Crematory at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY. September 1999. Attachment 2: SCREEN3 Modeling Output: Crematory Run 4. Attachment 3: Estimated Potential to Emit of Pollutants from a Crematory Attachment 4: Estimated Ambient Air Concentrations from a Crematory Attachment 5: Calculation of Mercury Deposition Rate over McCarron Lake, Roseville 3 Swain et. al. Increasing rates of atmospheric mercury deposition in midcontinental North America. Science 257: 784-787. ¢Pratt et. al. 1996. Estimation of dry deposition of inorganics using filter pack data and inferred deposition veolcity. Environmental Science and Technology;30:2 168-2 177).