Saint Lucia Minamata Initial Assessment Report
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SAINT LUCIA MINAMATA INITIAL ASSESSMENT REPORT DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINAMATA INITIAL ASSESSMENT IN THE CARIBBEAN (Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago) AUGUST 2018 Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer in the Caribbean *This page has been intentionally left blank* i SAINT LUCIA MINAMATA INITIAL ASSESSMENT REPORT PUBLISHED 2018 Prepared by the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean (BCRC-Caribbean) under the GEF Project: “Development of the Minamata Initial Assessment in the Caribbean (Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago). GEF IMPLEMENTING AGENCY UN Environment NATIONAL EXECUTING AGENCY Sustainable Development and Environment Division, Department of Sustainable Development Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development Saint Lucia DISCLAIMER The sole responsibility for the content of this Report lies with the co-authors. The views reflected in this Report are solely those of the co-authors and are not necessarily those of the other institutions that supported the report. COVER PHOTO SOURCE © Invest Saint Lucia, subject to copyright ii ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT The Saint Lucia Minamata Initial Assessment Report was developed under the project, “Development of Minamata Initial Assessment in the Caribbean: Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago”. The project is an enabling activity for the ratification and/or implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Funding was received from the Global Environment Facility with the United Nations Environment acting as the Implementing Agency and the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean acting as the Executing Agency. Nationally, the project was executed by the Department of Sustainable Development of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations & Sustainable Development. The development of the Report was guided by the Biodiversity Research Institute who was contracted as the lead technical consultancy. The report consists of an inventory of mercury releases primarily based on 2016 data. Assessments and recommendations for the effective implementation of the Minamata Convention were conducted. Contact point responsible for inventory of mercury releases Sustainable Development and Environment Division, Full name of institution Department of Sustainable Development Contact person Chief Sustainable Development and Environment Officer Telephone number 1 758 451 8746 Report issuing date August 2018 This inventory was performed in accordance with UN Environment's "Toolkit for identification and quantification of mercury releases", Inventory Level 2 (version 1.04, January 2017). The report also includes an assessment of the legislative and institutional framework in relation to the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury which was developed by legal consultant, Dr Winston McCalla. iii Contents List of Tables....................................................................................................................................... 1 List of Figures ..................................................................................................................................... 3 List of Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................... 4 Foreword by Minister of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development ....... 6 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 8 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 18 Chapter 1: National Background Information ........................................................................................ 25 1.1 Geography and Population ......................................................................................................... 25 1.2 Political, Legal and Economic Profile ......................................................................................... 26 1.3 Environmental Overview ............................................................................................................. 27 Chapter 2: Mercury Inventory and Identification of Releases and Resources ...................................... 28 2.1 Summary of Mercury Releases, Stockpiles, and Supply and Trade .......................................... 28 2.1.1 Mercury release source types present ................................................................................ 28 2.1.2 Summary of mercury inputs to society ................................................................................ 30 2.1.3 Summary of mercury releases ............................................................................................ 32 2.1.4 Summary of mercury stockpiles, supply and trade ............................................................. 33 2.2 Identified Hot-Spots of Mercury Contamination (contaminated sites) ........................................ 34 2.3 Data and Inventory on Energy Consumption and Fuel Production ............................................ 38 2.3.1 Use of mineral oil ................................................................................................................. 38 2.3.2 Biomass fired power and heat production ........................................................................... 41 2.3.3 Geothermal power production ............................................................................................. 44 2.4 Data and Inventory on Consumer Products with the Intentional Use of Mercury ....................... 45 2.4.1 Thermometers containing mercury ..................................................................................... 45 2.4.2 Electrical switches and relays containing mercury .............................................................. 48 2.4.3 Light sources with mercury .................................................................................................. 51 2.4.4 Batteries with mercury ......................................................................................................... 54 2.4.5 Polyurethane with mercury catalysts ................................................................................... 57 2.4.6 Cosmetics and related products with mercury .................................................................... 59 2.5 Data and Inventory on Other Intentional Products/Process Uses of Mercury ............................ 60 2.5.1 Dental mercury-amalgam fillings ......................................................................................... 60 2.5.2 Manometers and gauges with mercury ............................................................................... 63 2.5.3 Laboratory chemicals and equipment with mercury ............................................................ 65 2.5.4 Mercury metal use in religious rituals and folklore medicine ............................................... 68 2.6 Data and Inventory on Waste Incineration and Burning ............................................................. 69 2.6.1 Informal waste burning ........................................................................................................ 69 2.7 Data and Inventory on Waste Handling ...................................................................................... 71 2.7.1 Controlled landfills/deposits ................................................................................................. 71 iv 2.7.2 Diffuse deposition under some control ................................................................................ 76 2.7.3 Informal dumping of general waste ..................................................................................... 76 2.7.4 Wastewater system/treatment ............................................................................................. 79 2.8 Crematoria and Cemeteries........................................................................................................ 83 2.8.1 Crematoria ........................................................................................................................... 83 2.8.2 Cemeteries .......................................................................................................................... 85 2.9 Stocks of Mercury and/or Mercury Compounds and Storage Conditions .................................. 87 2.10 Supply and Trade of Mercury and Mercury Containing Compounds Including Sources, Recycling Activities and Quantities ................................................................................................... 87 2.11 Impacts of Mercury on Human Health and the Environment .................................................... 88 Chapter 3: Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Framework Assessment ............................................. 89 3.1 Assessment of Policies ............................................................................................................... 89 3.2 Assessment of Legislation .......................................................................................................... 90 3.2.1 Existing Legislation .............................................................................................................