As required by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, EPA is proposing a rule to require reporting from persons who manufacture (including import) mercury or mercury-added products, or otherwise intentionally use mercury in a manufacturing process. This reporting rule must be finalized before June 22, 2018. Comments can be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0421. The 60-day comment period will begin upon publication in the Federal Register.
EPA is required by the amended TSCA to carry out and publish in the Federal Register not later than April 1, 2017, and every three years thereafter, an inventory of mercury supply, use, and trade in the United States. Mercury is defined as "elemental mercury" and "a mercury compound." The Agency published its initial inventory report in March 2017.
The proposed rule, when finalized, would support future, triennial publications of the inventory. Based on the information collected, the Agency is directed to identify any manufacturing processes or products that intentionally add mercury; and recommend actions to achieve further reductions in mercury use.
