[Sqg-program] FW: Report-- Mercury-containing Products and Alternatives

[Perrigan, Glen]

FYI...


This is a great 86 page report on Mercury-containing products and =
non-mercury
alternatives. It was produced to support a mercury sales ban in the =
Northeast
states.  The Executive Summary and Conclusions and Recommendations are =
worth
a read. Irene and Glen--please pass on to your listservs Laurie--please =
start
a file on various mercury phase out legislation (referenced below) in =
case
this issue comes up or we are asked for ideas for potential legislation.
Thanks to all Raoul =
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

The State of Maine has recently passed a law (LD 1159) to ban the sale =
of
mercury switches, mercury relays, as well as certain measuring devices =
and
instruments that contain mercury.  The ban goes into effect on July 1, =
2006,
and includes products such as thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, =
manometers,
barometers, and any products that contain a mercury switch or mercury =
relay.

Prior to passage of this law, the Maine DEP commissioned PSI's affiliate =
at
the University of Massachusetts/Lowell, the Lowell Center for =
Sustainable
Production, to conduct a comprehensive investigation of alternatives to
products that contain mercury.  This report is an excellent resource for
other states that may be considering ban or phase out legislation for
products that contain mercury.

Since mercury-containing products are a priority for many state and =
local
government agencies, PSI will soon be starting a project on mercury
thermostats.  With funding from the U.S. EPA Region V and the Oregon
Department of Environmental Quality, PSI will start a project in =
September
2003 to identify product stewardship solutions for mercury thermostats.

The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production report can be viewed at:
http://www.state.me.us/dep/mercury/lcspfinal.pdf

Greg Morose, PSI Senior Program Manager, is one of the principal authors =
of
this Lowell Center report and can be reached at:
Phone: 978-934-2954
Email: greg@productstewardship.us


LD 1159 "An Act to Reduce Mercury Use in Measuring Devices and Switches" =
can
be viewed at:
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billtexts/LD115901-1.asp