Call for comments issued on behalf of the co-chairs of the group of technical experts on air emissions under the Minamata Convention on Mercury
This consultation seeks the views of governments and other interested stakeholders on the developing draft guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices (BAT/BEP) for controlling and where feasible reducing mercury emissions to the atmosphere, as set out in Article 8 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Article 8 is concerned with controlling and, where feasible, reducing emissions of mercury and mercury compounds to the atmosphere from point sources falling within the five source categories listed in Annex D. These are:
- Coal-fired power plants;
- Coal-fired industrial boilers;
- Smelting and roasting processes used in the production of lead, zinc, copper and industrial gold, referred to in the Convention and in this document as ‘non-ferrous metals’;
- Waste incineration facilities; and
- Cement clinker production facilities.
For new sources, each Party must require the use of best available techniques and best environmental practices to control and, where feasible, reduce mercury emissions. Parties must implement this provision as soon as practicable but no later than five years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for that Party. For existing sources, each Party must include in any national plan and implement one or more of the listed measure, one of which is the use of best available techniques and best environmental practices to control emissions from relevant sources. Measures to control existing sources must be implemented as soon as practicable, but no later than ten years after entry into force of the Convention for that Party.
Article 8 also calls for the Conference of the Parties (COP) to adopt, at its first meeting, guidance on best available techniques (BAT) and on best environmental practices (BEP).
The Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Minamata Convention on Mercury that adopted the Convention in Kumamoto, Japan, in October 2013 established and mandated a group of technical experts, nominated from each region, as a subsidiary body which reports to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury, to develop the guidance called for in Article 8 of the Convention (UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/CONF/4, Resolution 1, paragraph 10). The list of membership of the group of technical experts is available on the Minamata Convention website.
The group has met on three occasions, and its work on developing draft guidance on best available techniques and on best environmental practices has progressed to the point where it would benefit from broader comment and input.
Accordingly, the Co-Chairs present the draft chapters as work in progress. Several sections will be completed following this consultation phase, and these are clearly indicated. The draft includes crosscutting material, followed by chapters covering the relevant technical material relating to each of the source categories. It should be noted that information relating to coal-fired power plants and coal-fired industrial boilers are presented in a single chapter.
The Co-Chairs invite comments and contributions, particularly in relation to the completeness of the processes and techniques included and the comprehensiveness of their description, as well as the potential usefulness of the draft in guiding Parties in selecting and implementing BAT and BEP in their circumstances. In providing comments, referencing both the document and the appropriate section or subsection within the document would greatly facilitate the work of the secretariat. Comments and other contributions must be received by the Interim Secretariat by 1 August 2015.
All comments received will be posted on the relevant page of the Convention website (http://www.mercuryconvention.org/Negotiations/BATBEPExpertGroup/tabid/3634/Default.aspx). The expert group will take these into account, along with further intersessional work underway in developing a final draft of the guidance which will be translated into the six UN languages and presented to the Committee at its seventh session. In parallel to this consultation, a technical editor will be reviewing the text to ensure consistent use of terminology and style.
A separate document including available case studies is also provided: while this present useful additional information, it is not intended to form part of the guidance which will be presented for formal adoption as part of the BAT/BEP guidance. The expert group would welcome the submission of further robust case studies.
We would appreciate the submission of all comments and contributions no later than 1 August 2015 to:
The Coordinator, Interim secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, Chemicals Branch
Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, United Nations Environment Programme
11 - 13 chemin des Anémones, CH - 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland
Fax: (41 22) 797 3460
E-mail: mercury.chemicals@unep.org