SPECIAL PUBLICATION NO. 27


 "The results of these efforts should be carefully evaluated by the
state. If the resulting data show that mercury is not actually a problem in
the region, some of the efforts can be terminated and the issue referred
to the Division of Environmental Management for resolution for permit-
ting questions which remain.
9. Evaluation of Monitoring Results
 Monitoring results from peat mines should be reported at least quar-
terly by the Division of Land Resources in cooperation with the Division
of Environmental Management. It is crucial to identify unacceptable
trends as soon as possible, in order to incorporate remedial actions into
the permitting process. Evaluation of monitoring results will be especially
critical when monitoring is required in a mining permit for substance or
variables for which there are no presently established water quality stan-
dards.
 "Although the Department already has in-house experts in a large
number of disciplines which may be involved in peat evaluation, it is
likely that some outside expertise may be needed to assist in evaluating
monitoring results and to verify trends. The Assistant Secretary for Natu-
ral Resources should be charged with assuring that the requisite intrade-
partmental and outside expert review are secured in a timely fashion.
 "In addition to these technical monitoring reports, the Division of Land
Resources, in consultation with other divisions, should be directed to
prepare an annual report on environmental changes in the peat mining
region. This report should include a description of the year's activity in
peat mining, monitoring, use, and research. It should also include the
evaluations of the monitoring results for the year. The report should also
include an evaluation of the effectiveness of departmental policies on
peat mining and use.
10. Departmental Evaluation Plan
 "A DNRCD evaluation plan on the overall environmental impacts of
 peat mining and the control of these impacts should be developed as
 soon as possible.
 "The Department has sponsored or had access to a number of peat
 research projects, (See Table I), but these have for the most part been
 aimed at major, generalized issues rather than at the specific issues. The
 mercury research effort represents the first of the highly focused studies
 that may increasingly be needed. Others will be needed as questions
 arise from monitoring results and other observations. The peat mining
 working group should provide the Assistant Secretary for Natural
 Resources with an overall research evaluation plan which gives priorities
 for research projects to address specific identified issues. Such a plan
 would allow the most efficient allocation of effort and funds, and it
 would minimize delays in allocating research funds which often become
 available at very short notice, such as the Coastal Energy Impact pro-
 gram (CEIP) which is administered by the Office of Coastal Management.
 "CEIP has funded most of the department's recent and current


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