§ 27-2109 — Advisory committee on mercury pollution

§ 27-2109. Advisory committee on mercury pollution.\n 1. There shall be established, within the department, an advisory\ncommittee on mercury pollution to examine, evaluate and make\nrecommendations concerning the prevention and cleanup of mercury\npollution, and the latest technology for the remediation of mercury\npollution.\n 2. The advisory committee on mercury pollution shall consist of seven\nmembers, each appointed member to serve a term of two years, to be\nappointed as follows:\n (a) one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate;\n (b) one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly;\n (c) the commissioner, or his or her designee; and\n (d) four members appointed by the governor as follows:\n (i) one shall be a representative of an industry that manufactures\nmercury-added consumer products,\n (ii) one shall be a public health specialist,\n (iii) one shall be a toxicologist, and\n (iv) one shall be a scientist who is knowledgeable on matters relating\nto mercury contamination.\n 3. The members of such committee shall be broadly representative of\nthe geographic areas of the state. The commissioner, or his or her\ndesignee, shall serve as the chair of the committee. Vacancies in the\nmembership of the committee shall be filled in the manner provided for\noriginal appointments.\n 4. The members of the advisory committee on mercury pollution shall\nreceive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their\nactual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their\nduties pursuant to this section.\n 5. To the maximum extent feasible, the advisory committee on mercury\npollution shall be entitled to request and receive data from any\ndepartment, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state\nor any political subdivision thereof as it may reasonably request to\ncarry out properly its powers and duties pursuant to this section.\n 6. On or before February first, two thousand six, the advisory\ncommittee on mercury pollution shall submit a report to the governor and\nthe legislature relating to:\n (a) the extent of mercury contamination in the soil, waters and air of\nthe state;\n (b) the extent of any health risk from mercury contamination in the\nstate, especially to pregnant women, children and people that use fish\nas a major source of food;\n (c) the methods available to minimize the risk of further\ncontamination or increased health risks to the public;\n (d) the potential costs of minimizing further risk and recommendations\non how to acquire the funds necessary to reduce contamination and\nminimize the risk of mercury-related health problems;\n (e) the effectiveness of the provisions of this title in reducing\nmercury contamination and mercury-related health problems; and\n (f) any necessary coordination with other states to effectively\naddress mercury issues.\n