Mercury; who would have thunk?

Continuing from yesterday, I learned the following:

I didn't know that coal fired power stations are today's largest emitters of mercury in Canada. According to government data, in 2003, the coal-fired electric power generation emitted an estimated 2,695kg of mercury. Electric power generation (EPG) is the largest single remaining source of mercury emissions in Canada from human activities. Therefore, the Environment Ministers have agreed to set a mercury Canada-wide standard (CWS) for this sector, with the goal of reducing mercury emissions from existing plants and ensuring new plants achieve emission levels based on best available technologies economical achievable, or equivalent.

There are two sets of targets. Provincial caps on mercury emissions for coal-fired EPG representing a 65% reduction by 2010; and the capture rate for new plants based on best technologies, as mentioned above.

A possible second phase of the CWS may explore the capture of 80% or more from coal burned for 2018 and beyond.

I find it interesting that the utilities have a reasonable time frame to lower mercury emissions, whereas the proposed ECA does not afford much time to domestic marine for conversion to cleaner fuels.