Mercury Management Environmental Impact Statement

EPA Breaking the Mercury Cycle:

Conference on Mercury Retirement Boston, MA

May 1-3, 2002

Cornel Holder Deputy Administrator

Defense National Stockpile Center

Briefing Outline

DNSC Mission

Defense Stockpile of Elemental Mercury

EIS Process

Public Outreach

DNSC, a part of DLA, has been selling commodities on the open market.

The Stockpile of strategic and critical materials was purchased

to reduce the United States’ dependence on

foreign sources of supply during national emergencies.

DNSC currently stores 60 different

commodities at 56 locations.

Defense National Stockpile Center (DNSC)

DoD Mercury Stockpile

No DoD requirement for elemental mercury

DNSC sales suspended in 1994

4,436 metric tons of elemental mercury in inventory

Elemental mercury continues to be mined and imported

Long-term solutions needed for elemental mercury management

DNSC Mercury Storage Sites

Security Measures

Perimeter fence surrounding depot

Armed security, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week

Controlled access to warehouses

Controlled access to depot

Safety Measures

Lumex, state-of-the-art, mercury air-monitoring equipment

Measures in parts per billion

Jerome Mercury Vapor Analyzer

Measures in parts per million

Past Mercury Storage

3-liter capacity, steel flasks

Wooden pallets on metal catch trays

Sprinkle system in warehouses

Entire inventory re-packaged in 1975. (699 metric tons)

Seamless 3-liter containers used

Will over-pack if consolidated at another location

Over-packing

Flasks cleaned and inspected

Six flasks to a 30 gal drum

Flasks transferred to DOT approved, air and liquid-tight drum

Levels of protection

1. Steel flask.

2. Absorbent pad.

3. Plastic liner.

4. Epoxy-coated drum.

5. Drip pan.

6. Epoxy-coated floor.

7. Secure warehouse.

Location MT

Somerville, NJ 2,617 Warren, OH 563New Haven, IN 557

Increased lighting for inspections.

Epoxy floor sealer impenetrable by mercury.

Present Mercury Storage

Environmental Impact Statement Process

Proposed

Action

Notice of

Intent

Public Scoping

Process

Scope of

StatementDraft Environmental

Impact Statement

Public

Comments

Final Environmental

Impact Statement

Record of

Decision

Alternatives

No Action: continued storage at present locations with air-monitoring

Consolidated storage at one site

Sales that do not unduly disrupt market

Treatment of elemental mercury followed by disposal

Consolidated Storage

Federal Register Notice to all Federal Agencies

March 5, 2001

Follow-up letter to specific agencies

– Potential sites to be evaluated

Sales

Analyze environmental impacts of DNSC sales

Estimated annual domestic consumption 300 metric tons

Resume DNSC sales at a maximum rate of 5,000 flasks per year (173 metric tons)

Approximately 30 years to sell entire inventory

Not to unduly disrupt market

Treatment Followed by Disposal

Processing elemental mercury (evaluate environmental impacts)

– Use DEE-MERC technology (IT Corporation/Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., Knoxville,TN)

– Create a sulfur compound for land disposal (PermaFix, Kinston, TN)

– Use selenium to amalgamate mercury for disposal(McCoy Environmental Technicians, Inc.,

Columbus ,GA)

Treating elemental mercury (evaluate environmental impacts)

– Use Sulfur Polymer Stabilization and or Solidification (SPSS) process. (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton NY)

– Use SPSS at an established mercury treatment facility for disposal. (Bethlehem Apparatus Co., Inc., Hellertown PA)

Treatment Followed by Disposal

Process and Store Alternative Eliminated

Mercury can be safely stored in its elemental form.

Elemental mercury is the desired starting point for most industrial uses.

A process and store alternative would result in no significant benefits.

Interagency Working Group Members/Organizations

AGENCYDefense Logistics Agency

Department of Energy

EPA Offices – Federal Activities – Solid Waste – Pollution Prevention and Toxics – Water – Mercury Task Force

U. S. Public Health Service

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Department of Commerce

ROLEPreparer of MMEIS

Cooperating Agency

Review of MM EIS

Advisory

Advisory

Advisory

Public meetings at storage locationsHost meetings with environmental groups Participate in EPA Workshops:

–Bi-National Toxics Strategy–Mercury Retirement Conference

Participate in Environmental Council of States’ (ECOS)

Quicksilver Caucus

Public Outreach

Tools:

Website - www.mercuryeis.com Newsletters & fact sheetsToll free number - voice (888-306-6682)Toll free number - fax (888-306-8818)Information repositories

– Local libraries

Public Outreach

Our Commitment

We are committed to safety-of our communities-our employees-and our environment.

We will identify and evaluate a wide range of reasonable alternatives-with stakeholders’ input.

We encourage public participation in the Mercury Management Environmental Impact Statement Decision Making Process.

For More Information

Defense National Stockpile8725 John J. Kingman RoadFort Belvoir, VA 22060-6223

888-306-6682-VOICE888-306-8818-FAX

www.mercuryeis.com