Mercury Storage EIS

The Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008 directs 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.
 

As required by the National Environmental Policy Act, DOE has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the impacts of the required action. Following a scoping comment period, DOE issued the Draft Long-Term Management and Storage of Elemental Mercury EIS (Draft Mercury Storage EIS) on January 29, 2010. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and Mesa County, Colorado are cooperating agencies on this EIS.
 

DOE is committed to robust public involvement. Scoping meetings were held near potential mercury storage sites during the summer of 2009, and both oral and written comments were accepted during a 45-day public comment period on the scope of the EIS. Scoping comments were considered in preparing the Draft EIS. Following release of the Draft EIS in January of 2010, a series of nine public hearings were held near sites analyzed in the Draft EIS, and oral and written comments were accepted during a 60-day comment period. All comments will be considered in the Final EIS.
 

The Draft Mercury Storage EIS evaluates several candidate sites for a long-term mercury storage facility or facilities. The Draft EIS Summary, fact sheets, and other information materials explain the major areas analyzed and the potential impacts identified for each site.
 

DOE expects the Final Mercury Storage EIS to be released in the Fall of 2010. DOE will announce the final decision as to where the mercury storage facility or facilities will be located in a Record of Decision that will be published in the Federal Register at least 30 days after the Final EIS is issued.
 

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