Macrophytes
This term literally means large plant. Usually refers to rooted,
seed-producing aquatic plants. Management Measures MM
A management measure is an economically achievable way to control
the addition of pollutants from existing and new nonpoint
sources. These measures call for the best available nonpoint pollution control
practices, technologies, processes, site specific criteria, operation methods,
or other alternatives. Related Programs - Coastal Zone Management
Act, Clean Water Act Mass Balance
A scientific approach that studies the sources, movement, and destination
of any substance, for example a contaminant, that enters a lake system. A mass
balance budget for a particular pollutant is the amount that enters a lake minus
the amount that is tied-up in the sediment, broken down by chemical or biological
processes, or removed by some other means. This should equal the amount that flows
out of the lake system. This exercise enables scientists to assess the possible
long-term effects of a pollutant and possible remediation actions. Also see Lake
Michigan Mass Balance Study. Related Programs - Great
Lakes Toxic Reduction Effort, Lakewide Management Programs
Mercury Hg
A heavy metal, mercury is a
neurotoxin that is toxic if breathed or ingested at sufficiently
high concentrations. Mercury is present naturally in the environment. It has commonly
been used in a wide variety of applications including thermometers, fluorescent
bulbs, mirrors, hide preservation, paints, for plastic coloring, in inks and stains,
and in golf course pesticides. Because of its common use, mercury is released
during garbage incineration. It is also released through the combustion of fuels
such as coal and wood for energy production. Mercury readily bioaccumulates
in all aquatic organisms, especially fish and shell fish and in humans and wildlife
that consume fish. Many lakes in the Great Lakes region
have fish consumption advisories due to high levels of
mercury primarily caused by atmospheric deposition. Mercury
is one of the nine critical pollutants. Related Programs
- Binational Program Mesotrophic
A term used to describe a lake of moderate primary
productivity. See also eutrophic and oligotrophic.
Mid-Continent Ecology Division MED
The
EPA's freshwater ecology and water pollution research
laboratory in Duluth, Minnesota. Established in 1967, the lab develops methods
for predicting and assessing the effects of pollutants on freshwater resources.
It is also involved in Great Lakes research, such as work
in food chain contaminants, modeling, coastal wetlands,
and the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program.
MED was formerly called the Environmental Research Lab-Duluth.
Related Programs - Environmental Protection Agency
Minnesota Acid Deposition Control Act
A Minnesota law passed in
1982 that required the MPCA to (1) identify the areas
of the state containing resources sensitive to acid deposition, (2) develop a
standard to protect these resources, (3) adopt a control
plan to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions, and (4) ensure
that all Minnesota emission sources subject to the control plan were in compliance
by January 1, 1990. Minnesota Air Toxics Strategy
A program developed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
to help achieve smooth, fair implementation of air toxics
provisions of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, protection
of public health and the environment, and the collection of air toxics information.
The strategy mirrors the federal program somewhat but has not gone though rule-making,
and is a shift in focus for the state away from air toxics rules.
Minnesota Department of Health MDH
The state agency responsible
for human health protection in Minnesota. Among other duties, the MDH prepares
the fish consumption advisory each year and establishes
drinking water standards. Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources MN DNR, DNR
A Minnesota state
agency responsible for the management of the state's timber, waters, minerals
and wildlife. The department is organized by division according to the resources
it manages: forestry, fish and wildlife, parks and recreation, minerals, trails
and waterways, enforcement, and waters. Minnesota Environmental
Response and Liability Act MERLA
This Minnesota state legislation
was patterned after the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act, and provided the state with the authority
to deal with uncontrolled releases of hazardous substances to the environment
(MN Statute 115B). Minnesota Interagency Exotic Species Task
Force Committee
Established by Minnesota state legislation in 1989,
this task force established a state-wide communications network between agencies
that are involved with regulations, management, research, technical assistance,
public awareness and educational programming regarding potential and existing
exotic species. Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency MPCA, PCA
A Minnesota state agency responsible
for setting standards and authorizing permits for air
quality, solid waste, hazardous waste disposal, water
quality, and noise pollution. The focus of the MPCA is on compliance to these
standards through technical assistance, education and information. The agency
is organized into four major divisions: air quality, water quality, groundwater
and solid waste, and hazardous waste.
Minnesota Rule Chapter 6280
A Minnesota rule that requires permits
for activities which are meant to control aquatic plants and submerged vegetation.
These rules are administered by the MN DNR.
Minnesota Rule Chapter 7001
A Minnesota state regulation that contains
the permit process and permit requirements for hazardous waste
facilities, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System,
and water quality certification (Section 401 Certification).
Administered by the MPCA. Related Programs - Clean
Water Act Minnesota Rule Chapter 7007
A
Minnesota state regulation that contains requirements for a facility to obtain
an air emission facility permit. Administered by the MPCA.
Related Programs - Clean Air Act Minnesota
Rule Chapter 7009
A Minnesota state regulation that contains the
state ambient air quality standards and methods of measurement to meet those standards.
Administered by the MPCA. Related Programs - Clean
Air Act Minnesota Rule Chapter 7021
The
Minnesota rule that includes the acid deposition standard and control requirements
which apply to the electric power generating utilities. Also known as the Minnesota
Acid Deposition Control Rule. Administered by the MPCA.
Related Programs - Clean Air Act Minnesota
Rule Chapter 7050
A Minnesota rule that sets standards
for protecting the quality and purity of the Waters of the
State. Administered by the MPCA. Related Programs
- Clean Water Act Minnesota Rule
Chapter 7060
A Minnesota rule that protects and preserves the underground
Waters of the State. Administered by the MPCA.
Minnesota Rule Chapter 8420
A Minnesota rule
that identifies replacement plan criteria for wetland
drain and fill activities which require mitigation under the Wetland
Conservation Act. These rules are administered by the Board
of Water and Soil Resources. Related Programs - Wetland
Conservation Act Rules
Minnesota Sea Grant Sea Grant
This University of Minnesota-based program supports research, extension,
and education about Lake Superior, the other Great
Lakes, and inland waters of Minnesota, making research accessible
to citizens, resource managers, and policy makers. Related Programs -
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
National Sea Grant College Program
Minnesota Toxic Pollution Prevention
Act TPPA
State legislation passed into law in 1990, this act
creates policies and sets up ways to prevent the release of toxic
pollutants into the environment by reducing or eliminating toxic pollutants
at their source through pollution prevention.
Mitigation
See wetland mitigation.
Mixing Zone
A limited area or volume of water where initial dilution
of a point source pollutant discharge takes place. The
zone is extended to cover the secondary mixing in the surrounding waterbody. Numeric
water quality criteria can be exceeded, but acutely toxic
conditions are prevented from occurring in this zone. Related Programs - Clean
Water Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Multi-media Inspections
These are inspections of a discharger's effect on water and air quality
and generation of solid and hazardous waste. See
Lake Superior Partnership. Related Programs -
Western Lake Superior Sanitary District
Multi-media Risk
The human health risk due to exposure to a pollutant
through all pathways such as inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact.
Municipal Industrial Strategy for Abatement MISA
A program
initiative of the province of Ontario intended to reduce water pollution.
Mutagen
A substance that is known or suspected to cause mutations.
Mutation
A permanent change in the hereditary
material involving a physical change in chromosomes or genes. | 
