"My legislation would solve some of the nation's worst long-term mercury retirement problems, including the problem at the Holtrachem plant in Orrington," said Senator Collins. "Today, we are one step closer to developing a sorely needed policy to deal with surplus mercury."
Currently, the United States has no policy to deal with surplus mercury. As a result of this gap, the United States has shipped tons of mercury to India, only to have India ship it right back. Because there is no federal policy to retire surplus mercury, the Natural Resource Council of Maine has arranged for the storage, on a temporary basis, of 80 tons of the Holtrachem mercury. Collins's legislation would find a permanent home for this mercury.
Senator Collins's bill also calls for a nationwide ban on the sale of mercury thermometers and provides for a grant program to help consumers exchange mercury thermometers for digital or other alternatives. "By bringing in mercury thermometers for proper disposal, consumers will ensure the mercury from their thermometers doesn't end up polluting our lakes and threatening our health. It will also reduce the risk of breakage and contamination inside the home," the Senator said.
The bill creates an interagency task force to address the problem of the global circulation of mercury and ways to reduce the mercury threat to humans and the environment. The task force, to be chaired by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, would also be charged with identifying long-term means of disposing of mercury and comprehensive solutions to the global mercury problem. The Collins legislation, which was approved by the Senate last year, enjoys tripartisan support from Senators including, Jeffords, Chafee, Kerry, Hutchison, Reed, Lieberman, Voinovich, Dorgan, Leahy, and Wyden.