Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I thank Senator Leahy. The second mercury provision builds upon the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008, expanding the export ban currently in effect for elemental mercury to certain mercury compounds previously identified by EPA or other regulatory bodies as capable of being traded to produce elemental mercury in commercial quantities and thereby undermine the existing export ban. The mercury compound export ban would go into effect in 2020, providing EPA and companies ample preparation time. An exemption is provided to allow the landfilling of these compounds in Canada, a member country to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, with which we have a bilateral arrangement to allow these cross-border transfers. The export is only authorized for landfilling; no form of mercury or mercury compound recovery, reuse, or direct use is permitted. EPA must evaluate whether such exports should continue within 5 years, in part based upon available domestic disposal options, and report to Congress on this evaluation so we may revise the law as needed. I have been happy to partner with Senator Whitehouse and Senator Leahy on these issues.”