In addition to banning the export of elemental mercury from the United States as of January 1, 2013, the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008 (MEBA) (Public Law No. 110-414) requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a facility for the long-term management and storage of elemental mercury (generated with the U.S.). DOE used the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to evaluate options considered in a January 2011 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a September 2013 Supplemental EIS.
Below are copies of the MEBA statute, factsheets, DOE guidance, and private facility interim storage notifications to DOE.
Statute - Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008
Fact Sheets
These factsheets provide overview information on mercury, the MEBA statute, the Mercury Storage EIS and SEIS efforts, and candidate sites under consideration during the NEPA process for long-term management and storage of elemental mercury. Please note that the comment period for the Mercury Storage EIS/SEIS is no longer open.
DOE Interim Guidance on Mercury Management Procedures and Standards
DOE, in consultation with the USEPA and State agencies, prepared this guidance on packaging, transportation, receipt, management, and long-term storage of elemental mercury at a DOE facility or facilities as mandated by the MEBA (the Act). This guidance document establishes basic standards and procedures for the receipt, management, and long-term storage of elemental mercury at a DOE facility as mandated by the Act.
Permitted Mercury Storage Facility Notifications
As provided for and authorized under the MEBA statue, certain options exist for the storage of elemental mercury until DOE is able to open its mercury storage facility. Elemental mercury may be stored at a permitted facility if the owner or operator of the facility certifies in writing to the Secretary of Energy that: [1] it will ship the mercury to the DOE facility when it is available, and [2] it will not sell, or otherwise place the elemental mercury into commerce. Eight permitted private facilities around the United States have submitted notification/certification letters to DOE stating that they meet the requirements to accept and store elemental mercury until the DOE facility opens.