Mercury Export Ban

In 2008, Congress amended TSCA 12(b) by passing the Mercury Export Ban of 2008, which prohibits the export of elemental mercury effective... 

Congress directly imposed restrictions on distribution of mercury when it enacted the Mercury Export Ban of 2008, ° which added a new TSCA 6(f) banning the sale, distribution, or transfer of elemental mercury by... 

The export provisions of the Mercury Export Ban are codified at TSCA 12(c)(1) and discussed in Chapter 8, Exports and Imports. 

A) Report. Not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008, the Administrator shall publish and submit to Congress a report on mercuric chloride, mercurous chloride or calomel, mercuric oxide, and other mercury compounds, if any, that may currently be used in significant quantities in products or processes. Such report shall include an analysis of—... 

Until 1989, the United States was a net importer of mercury. After that, market values of mercury fluctuated and consumption diminished, leading to a decreased need for imported mercury (Carrico 1985 Drake 1981). U.S. imports of mercury fell sharply between 1987 and 1990 (Jasinski 1993 Reese 1990). The import volumes decreased drastically during the period from 1987 to 1990 636 metric tons in 1987, 329 metric tons in 1988, 131 metric tons in 1989, and 15 metric tons in 1990 (see Table 4-2). However, import figures generally have increased substantially since 1990 56 metric tons in 1991, 92 metric tons in 1992, 40 metric tons in 1993, 129 metric tons in 1994, and 277 metric tons in 1995 (USGS 1997). The major reason for the recent escalation in mercury imports is the suspension of mercury sales from the National Defense Stockpile (NDS) in 1994, which had been the major supplier of mercury to the domestic market in recent years. The suspension was imposed by Congress after the EPA raised questions about potential problems associated with the release of mercury. Also, there was concern about the export of NDS mercury for uses banned in the United States (USGS 1997). 

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