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• provide current information on human health, environmental, and ecological research findings pertaining to mercury in addition to associated policy activities
• provide a forum for evaluating advancements in reducing mercury releases
• provide a forum for discussing the scientific and public health basis for policy actions to effectively address mercury risks
• facilitate an exchange on the cross media technical, policy, and management issues pertaining to mercury
• identify high priority areas for future cost effective mercury reduction activities and strategies
• identify high priority areas for future research needed to inform policy and management decisions

The overall purpose of the conference was to connect current scientific research findings with policy with balance in perspectives and without bias toward any point of view. In this context, policy refers to government policy as reflected in federal, state, or local government actions that include legislative, regulatory, voluntary, and educational efforts. In general, the scientific research focused on applied rather than basic research, unless the basic science was important to understanding critical issues and questions. Conference session topics targeted priority topics and issues of special interest in the Great Lakes or Northeast Regions.

• Federal, state, provincial, tribal, and local environmental and public health officials
• Policy makers and elected officials
• Academic and government researchers
• Non-governmental and community organizations
• Industry representatives
• Labor organization representatives

The conference was designed to target participation from the geographic area covered by the following States and Provinces: Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Vermont; New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec.