DOE Issues Draft Mercury Storage EIS

DOE Issues Draft Mercury Storage EIS DOE has issued a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on
the Long-Term Management and Storage of Elemental Mercury. A notice of its availability was set to
be published in today’s edition of the Federal Register. The draft EIS reports on the results of DOE’s evaluation of seven sites around the country as possible locations for a mercury storage facility.
DOE selected Waste Control Specialists (WCS) near Andrews, Texas, as its preferred alternative
for the long-term storage of  surplus elemental mercury. The public comment period on the

 EIS will run through March 30 and a series of nine public meetings will be held at venues near the locations
under consideration as sites for longterm storage facilities. The hearings will be held between February 23
and March 9.
 
http://www.mercurystorageeis.com/
 
The Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008 requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to designate a facility or facilities for the long-term management and storage of elemental mercury generated within the United States. Therefore, DOE has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to consider the impacts of the required action. The Long-Term Management and Storage of Elemental Mercury EIS (Mercury Storage EIS) evaluates alternatives for a long-term mercury storage facility or facilities to open no later than January 1, 2013, the statutory start date for storage operations. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Mesa County, CO are cooperating agencies on the Mercury Storage EIS.


This web site provides information on the development of the EIS and opportunities for the public to participate in the decisionmaking process. The Draft EIS is available for download from this site as well as through other means.

The Department of Energy currently expects the Final Environmental Impact Statement to be released in the Fall of 2010.

http://www.mercurystorageeis.com/library.htm