Ontario Power Generation (OPG) submitted its Mercury Monitoring Program to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment on April 10^th, 2003, though preliminary coal and ash sampling was initiated at Thunder Bay and Atikokan in December 2002 and at Lambton and Nanticoke in February 2003. Data will be reported in the next reporting period.

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is a recognized leader in the development of mercury sampling and analysis methodology. The Ontario Hydro Method (developed by OPG’s predecessor company) was one of the preferred methods recommended by the U.S. EPA in their Information Collection Request Program on mercury emissions from electric utilities. OPG has used this method to test stack emissions in the past and these results will be included as part of data requirements of the CEA Mercury Program. Specifically, stack sampling was conducted at Thunder Bay and Atikokan in 1998, at the Lambton units equipped with flue gas desulphurization units in 2001, and at a Nanticoke unit burning two blends of coal, in 2001 and 2002. This information will also be reported in the next reporting period.

OPG is also co-funding the development of mercury control technology with the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory and other U.S. utilities as well as research at the Natural Resources Canada CANMET (Canadian Centre For Mineral and Energy Technology) facility in Ottawa. The objective of these programs is to develop proven and commercially available control technologies for utility boilers.