U.S. won't sell huge stockpile of mercury
Decision could boost efforts to phase out its use worldwide
By Michael Hawthorne
Chicago Tribune
January 3, 2007
One of the nation's largest stockpiles of toxic mercury will remain
locked up instead of oozing into the world market.
After mulling a potential sale for several months, the U.S. Department
of Energy confirmed Tuesday that it will keep nearly 1,300 tons of
mercury in storage, increasing pressure on private companies to follow
the same policy.
The Tribune reported in November that federal officials were considering
selling off the Energy Department's surplus, prompted in part by
legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) that would ban
American exports of the silvery metal.
Once used to process material for hydrogen bombs, the government's
mercury has been in storage since alternative methods were developed in
the early 1960s.
...
For the entire article, see
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/health/chi-0701030035jan03,1,1289896.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
--
Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org
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