You are here:
EPA'S OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT OF EXCESS MERCURY
Citation:
Randall*, P M. AND D W. Grosse*. EPA'S OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT OF EXCESS MERCURY. Presented at RCRA National Conference: Partnerships for Cleaner Communities, Washington, DC, 1/15-18/2002.
Description:
The Agency is discussing the issues of the long-tem management and retirement of excess mercury. The concept of mercury "retirement" or the long-term management of excess mercury is in its infancy. Currently, the regulatory system supports all mercury recycling initiatives. There are concerns ove rthe issue of long-tem management of mercury but no concrete technical and policy initiatives have been undertaken by the Agency to bring forth the challenges on retirement of mercury. The long-tem management of excess mercury is challenging. The chlor-alkali industry hs several mercury cell plants that have shutdown this year or will in the near future to add to the excess mercury stockpiles. Also, the DOD has well over 4000+ tons of elemental mercury. As part of studying the mercury management issues, we will discuss the activities that EPA's ORD has initiated. One such activity is the upcoming Hg conference in 2002 which will address the long tem mercury management issue and review the technical alternatives for removing mercury from commerce or managing it in the long-term.