Washington State Works with Miners to Clean Up Mercury in the Environment

According to a recently published Washington State Department of Ecology press release, the Washington Department of Ecology is working along with miners to remove mercury that was left in state rivers and streams from the the gold rush days. Miners during the turn of the century left behinds tons of mercury in the water that groups of people are working to clean up.

Miners during the gold rush days would pour mercury into equipment and sluice boxes to help them find bits and pieces of gold. The mercury easily spilled into river gravel. Modern miners no longer use mercury and even work to clean up mercury when they find it in the environment in which they are mining.

During the past 10 years, small-scale miners associations have turned over and cleaned up roughly 127 pounds of pure mercury and around 8 pounds of lead for proper and safe disposal. The Washington Department of Ecology is further promoting that miners continue to clean up lead and mercury found within the environment.

Brian Dick, a manager with the Washington Department of Ecology's hazardous waste and toxics reduction program, said, "That is 127 pounds of mercury no longer contaminating Washington's waterways or being accidentally spilled. The miners have responded with great enthusiasm and have worked with Ecology to get the word out to their members about our collection program."

In the state of Washington, miners are still allowed to search for gold within state streams, but under strict guidelines that can be found here: http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/hab/goldfish/goldfish.htm.

Mark Erickson, with the Resources Coalition said, "Our members care about the environment and are happy to help remove legacy mercury and lead from Washington's rivers and streams."

Mercurcy naturally occurs in nature, but it can be extremely dangerous to human and animal health. Mercury can damage nerve tissue in humans and caused brain problems. Spills are extremely dangerous, difficult, and expensive to clean up completely.