ST. PAUL - Mercury emissions must be cut by 93 percent in order for most people to eat Minnesota-caught fish safely, according to the state Pollution Control Agency. But the agency didn't outline a plan to reach its goal.

"We are not being specific on how to get there," said David Thornton, the agency's manager of air policy development. "We are going to leave that for a different conversation with stakeholders."

In a report requested by the 1999 Legislature, the agency also acknowledged it has little control over how much mercury drifts to Minnesota from other places.

Thornton said a mix of voluntary and regulatory action is needed.

The progress report was intended to help reduce mercury pollution in Minnesota. Over the past 15 years, federal and state regulatory efforts have cut mercury releases from paint and other products by 70 percent, from 11,272 pounds to 3,341 pounds.

A 93 percent reduction would cut them to 789 pounds.

Emissions from utilities and taconite plants, however, have remained relatively steady. Unless steps are taken, mercury releases will begin to rise after 2010, the report stated.

Nancy Lange, clean air program coordinator for the Midwest Office of the Izaak Walton League of America, said the plan doesn't do enough.

"If they are going to achieve that 93 percent reduction goal, they need to delineate which sectors are going to achieve those reductions, by how much and by when," Lange said.

Mercury occurs naturally, but also is released into the air from coal-fired power plants, taconite plants and other sources. It eventually accumulates in lakes, rivers and the bodies of fish. It can be dangerous to fetuses, infants and children