Jump to main content.

Goal III. Promote Protective Long-term Management of "Excess" Bulk Mercury

The protective long-term management of bulk mercury is currently at the center of an active public debate. Large volumes of bulk mercury are currently held by a variety of groups, including collection centers for mercury-containing devices such as thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, car switches, the chlor-alkali industry (manufacturers of chlorine), the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. EPA anticipates that the existing stockpiles of mercury will increase as the mercury used in products continues to decline.

EPA is participating in efforts to determine the best possible policy for management of this excess mercury. EPA also supports projects that promote protective long-term management of excess bulk mercury while this public dialogue takes place. Projects that support this goal include the following:

Defense National Stockpile Center Announces Selection of Mercury Consolidation Storage Location

In February 2006, the Defense National Stockpile Center (DNSC) announced that the Hawthorne Army Depot in Hawthorne, NV was selected as the mercury consolidation location for DNSC's stockpiled mercury in excess of national defense needs. The DNSC, a part of DoD's Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), is responsible for providing safe, secure and environmentally sound stewardship for all commodities in the National Defense Stockpile, including mercury. There were five sites under consideration for the mercury consolidation storage: New Haven, Indiana; Somerville, New Jersey; Hawthorne, Nevada; Warren, Ohio; and Toole, Utah. The consolidation site selection was based on several factors, including environmental and economic conditions, stakeholder comments and policy considerations. EPA was a consulting agency to the DLA in preparing an Environmental Impact Statement on the long-term storage options for this stockpiled mercury in excess of national defense needs.

Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008

On October 14, 2008 the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008 was enacted into law.  The Act includes provisions on both mercury exports and long-term management and storage.  Because the U.S. is ranked as one of the world’s top exporters of mercury, implementation of the act will remove a significant amount of mercury from the global market. Mercury is exported from the U.S. to foreign countries where it meets ongoing demands, including small-scale gold (artisanal) mining. This use of mercury raises worker safety and environmental emissions issues.  To aid in addressing these concerns, EPA has provided expertise to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)’s Global Mercury Project’s artisanal mining project, which focuses on best management practices to reduce occupational exposure, emissions and mercury use. 

The Act’s three main provisions are the following:

United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Mercury AssessmentExit EPA
Several agencies, including EPA, were involved in the negotiation of a United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Governing Council decision in February 2001 that instructed UNEP to conduct a global assessment of mercury and its compounds, including information on sources, emissions, uses, international transport and human health issues. A technical assessment report was completed in September 2002, which incorporates U.S. information, and provides a scientifically-based overview of the nature and scope of mercury problems internationally. The key findings of the UNEP Global Assessment Report were adopted at the UNEP Governing Council Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya in February 2003, with recognition that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that further international action is warranted to reduce risks to health and the environment from mercury. EPA has provided resources for the UNEP global mercury assessment process to date and will continue to provide strong support for these activities over the next several years.

EPA also participated in the February 2005 UNEP mercury meeting. As called for by a UNEP Governing Council decision, the U.S. played a leadership riole in establishing global mercury partnerships Exit EPA designed to achieve reductions in the global use and emissions of mercury.

Finally, EPA's mercury Web site has a comprehensive list of U.S. actions to engage international partners to address key mercury issues, including best practices for emissions and use reduction.

EPA/Quicksilver Caucus Partnership on Long-Term Management of Excess Mercury Exit EPA
The Quicksilver Caucus (QSC) is a coalition of state government organizations that was formed to collaboratively develop holistic approaches for reducing mercury in the environment. The group includes: state air, water, and waste associations; the Environmental Council of the States; and the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR). The QSC hopes to identify areas of agreement and to promote development of a policy framework for addressing the long-term management of excess mercury in the United States.

Top of Page

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.