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Obama, Murkowski, Allen Introduce Bill to Ban Export of Mercury

Thursday, March 15, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben LaBolt

U.S. Remains a Top Exporter of Dangerous Pollutant

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced legislation – The Mercury Market Minimization Act – that would ban the export of mercury from the United States. U.S. Representative Tom Allen (D-ME) introduced the House version of the bill, the Mercury Export Ban Act. The U.S. is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top exporters of mercury, a substance that, when ingested, can lead to learning disabilities and physical ailments.

“The more we learn about mercury, the more we discover how harmful it is to our health,” said Senator Barack Obama. “While the United States has become more vigilant in collecting and containing mercury, it remains one of the leading exporters of this dangerous product. This legislation would cause the U.S. to lead by example, encouraging other nations to protect public health by eliminating their dependence on mercury.”

“Given the expanding knowledge about the health impacts of elemental mercury when it enters the atmosphere, this is a common-sense approach to slow needless mercury emissions, especially in the developing world,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “Coming from a state that is a major seafood producer, it only makes sense to take reasonable steps now to safeguard the environment from the unnecessary release of mercury that can affect fish and potentially those who eat fish.”

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can cause serious developmental problems in children, ranging from severe birth defects to mental retardation. As many as 630,000 children born annually in the U.S. are at risk of neurological problems related to mercury. In adults, mercury can cause major neurological problems affecting vision, motor skills, blood pressure and fertility. As many as 10 percent of women in the U.S. of childbearing age have mercury in their blood at a level that could put a baby at risk.

"It's tragic that mercury manufactured in the United States can be put to use in other countries in ways that endanger the health of people worldwide," said Representative Allen. "By reducing global supplies and driving up prices for mercury, this legislation will discourage the use of this toxic chemical around the world, while ensuring that the stockpiles of mercury already in this country are stored safely."

The Mercury Market Minimization Act (M3 Act) would:

  • Prohibit the commercial export of elemental mercury from the United States in 2010.

  • Within one year, require a report on mercury compounds to determine whether those compounds could be processed into elemental mercury after export from the U.S. and related information for determining whether those compounds should be included in the export prohibition.

  • Prohibit (i.e. codifies existing policy) the sale or transfer of federal mercury stockpiles held by the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense for any purpose except for transfer into permanent storage.

  • Establish a mercury storage advisory committee to issue a report in 1 year regarding the permanent storage of mercury subject to provisions of this bill (storage size, cost, liability, related matters.)