tion Agency determines appropriate, measuring and 
recording wet mercury deposition; 
(2) at a portion of such locations that the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
determines is appropriate, measuring and recording 
atmospheric mercury speciation and estimates of the 
dry deposition of mercury; 
(3) at a portion of such locations that the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
determines is appropriate, measuring and recording 
mercury flux and mercury export; and 
(4) measuring and recording the level of mer-
cury re-emitted from aquatic and terrestrial environ-
ments into the atmosphere. 
(c) WATER AND SOIL CHEMISTRY.—The program 
under this section shall monitor mercury levels in water 
and soil chemistry, including— 
(1) at a portion of all locations selected under 
subsection (a) that the Administrator of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency determines is appro-
priate, extracting and analyzing sediment cores; 
(2) measuring and recording total mercury con-
centration, methyl mercury concentration, and per-
cent methyl mercury in surface sediments; 
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(3) measuring and recording total mercury con-
centration and methyl mercury concentration in sur-
face water; and 
(4) at a portion of such locations that the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
determines is appropriate, measuring and recording 
total mercury concentrations and methyl mercury 
concentrations throughout the water column. 
(d) AQUATIC PLANTS AND ANIMALS.—The program 
under this section shall monitor mercury levels in plants 
and animals, including— 
(1) measuring and recording methyl mercury 
levels in yearling fish; 
(2) measuring and recording mercury levels, 
and other scientific data relevant to assessing the 
health of the fish population, in commercially or 
recreationally important fish; 
(3) measuring and recording mercury levels in 
the appropriate tissue in reptiles, amphibians, birds, 
and mammals; and 
(4) at a portion of all locations selected under 
subsection (a) that the Administrator of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency determines is appro-
priate, measuring and recording mercury levels in 
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phytoplankton, algae, zooplankton, and benthic in-
vertebrates. 
(e) SELECTION OF MONITORING SITES.—The Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall, 
not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act and in coordination with the Scientific Advisory 
Committee, recommend appropriate sites for monitoring 
under the program established under this section. 
SEC. 4. SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be established a 
Scientific Advisory Committee to advise the Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency on the establish-
ment, site selection, and operation of the national mercury 
monitoring program under this Act. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Scientific Advisory Com-
mittee shall consist of scientists who are not employees 
of the Federal Government, including— 
(1) 3 scientists appointed by the Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency; 
(2) 2 scientists appointed by the Director of the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service; 
(3) 2 scientists appointed by the Director of the 
National Park Service; 
(4) 2 scientists appointed by the Director of the 
Forest Service; 
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(5) 2 scientists appointed by the Director of the 
United States Geological Survey; and 
(6) 2 scientists appointed by the Administrator 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration. 
SEC. 5. REPORTS AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE. 
(a) REPORTS.—The Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency shall transmit to Congress a re-
port on the program under this Act not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years 
thereafter. Once every 4 years, such report shall include 
an assessment of the reduction in mercury deposition rates 
that must be achieved in order to prevent adverse ecologi-
cal effects. 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF DATA.—All data obtained pur-
suant to this Act shall be made available to the public. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying 
out this Act— 
(1) for fiscal year 2008— 
(A) to the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy $7,000,000; 
(B) to the United States Geological Survey 
$4,500,000; 
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(C) to the Fish and Wildlife Service 
$4,500,000; and 
(D) to the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration $2,000,000; 
(2) for fiscal year 2009— 
(A) to the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy $5,000,000; 
(B) to the United States Geological Survey 
$3,000,000; 
(C) to the Fish and Wildlife Service 
$3,000,000; and 
(D) to the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration $1,000,000; 
(3) for fiscal year 2010— 
(A) to the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy $5,250,000; 
(B) to the United States Geological Survey 
$3,250,000; 
(C) to the Fish and Wildlife Service 
$3,250,000; and 
(D) to the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration $1,250,000; and 
(4) such sums as may be necessary for each of 
fiscal years 2011 through 2013 to the Environ-
mental Protection Agency, the United States Geo-
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logical Survey, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act: 
(1) ECOREGION.—The term ‘‘ecoregion’’ means 
a large area of land and water that contains a geo-
graphically distinct assemblage of natural commu-
nities, including similar land forms, climate, ecologi-
cal processes, and vegetation. 
(2) MERCURY
EXPORT.—The term ‘‘mercury 
export’’ means mercury flux from a watershed to the 
corresponding water body, or from one water body 
to another (e.g. a lake to a river), generally ex-
pressed as mass per unit time. 
(3) MERCURY FLUX.—The term ‘‘mercury flux’’ 
means the rate of transfer of mercury between eco-
system components (e.g. between water and air), or 
between portions of ecosystem components, ex-
pressed in terms of mass per unit time or mass per 
unit area per time. 
(4) SURFACE SEDIMENT.—The term ‘‘surface 
sediment’’ means sediment in the top 2 centimeters 
of a lakebed or riverbed. 
Æ 
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