IMERC has posted guidance on its webpage-www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/imerc/phaseoutinfo.cfm- for manufacturers of mercury-added products to help them comply with phase-out and collection plan requirements in Connecticut, Maine, and Rhode Island. These states have enacted specific mercury product phase-out and collection system plan laws, and the guidance material on the website describes how companies can comply with them. The first deadline for mercury-added product phase-outs is July 1, 2004 in Connecticut and applies to mercury-added products with more than one gram or 250 parts per million (ppm) of mercury. Manufacturers of these products must either phase-out the sale of these products in Connecticut or submit a "Phase-out Exemption Application" that meets the criteria specified in the states' law. Manufacturers can find the Application on the IMERC webpage identified above.

For more information contact: Terri Goldberg, NEWMOA (617) 367-8558 x302, tgoldberg@newmoa.org.

Back to top

IMERC has posted guidance on its webpage-www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/imerc/productban.cfm-that is designed to help manufacturers, importers, and distributors of mercury-added products understand how to comply with specific mercury-added product bans in the United States.

This guidance document covers product bans enacted in the IMERC and non-IMERC member states. The mercury-added product bans enacted in the applicable states generally focus on the following categories of products: mercury-added fever thermometers, dairy manometers, thermostats, and other measuring devices that have widely available non-mercury alternatives. These product bans do not allow manufacturers to apply for an exemption.

For more information contact: Terri Goldberg, NEWMOA (617) 367-8558 x302, tgoldberg@newmoa.org.

The deadline for updating Mercury-added Product Notification Forms will be April 1, 2005, including reporting total mercury use for US sales of mercury-added products in calendar year 2004. Mercury-added product manufacturers or their representatives are required to submit an updated Mercury-added Product Notification Form if (1) there is a change in any of the information required for the Notification (e.g., increase or decrease in the amount of mercury); (2) the mercury is eliminated from the product; (3) the manufacturer stops manufacturing the mercury-added product or product category; (4) the mercury-added product or product category is no longer sold in states requiring Notification; and/or (5) the manufacturer begins to produce additional mercury-added products. Every three years the total mercury use information is required to be updated and reported for a full calendar year.

For more information contact: Terri Goldberg, NEWMOA (617) 367-8558 x302, tgoldberg@newmoa.org.

Back to top

Maine has a new law that bans the sale of mercury switches, relays, and measuring devices after July 1, 2006, unless an exemption is obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection. The ME DEP is writing rules for processing exemption applications, and will circulate the draft rules to manufacturers and other interested parties for comment later this year. To add your name to a mailing list, contact: John James, DEP-BRWM, 17 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333, john.james@maine.gov.

Back to top

Until Decelmber 2003, Joslyn Clark made fire pump controllers with over a gram of mercury in them. They spent several years investigating and developing non-mercury alternatives, and recently reported to IMERC that none of their current fire controllers has any intentionally-added mercury. Joslyn Clark used over 50,000 grams of mercury in its fire controllers in 2001. That mercury use has now been successfully eliminated in their current product line. IMERC applauds their success!

Back to top

Weiss Instruments produces thermometers and pressure gauges for use in a wide variety of applications, and their product lines became mercury free in 2002. They are a Long Island-based company that made a commitment to research and develop non-mercury alternatives for their customers. IMERC applauds their success!

Back to top

The Interstate Mercury Education & Reduction Clearing-house (IMERC) produces IMERC Alert as a way of communicating critical information with manufacturers, distributors, and importers of mercury-added products and trade organiza-tions that represent those companies. The Alert is designed to provide quick and easy updates on the regulatory require-ments of IMERC-member states concerning mercury-added products and other related developments and activities. IMERC Alert is distributed primarily through an e-mail list of companies and organizations that have reported to IMERC that they produce or distribute mercury-added products, and it is posted on the IMERC web page at www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/imerc. IMERC will be issuing this Alert periodically— based on when announcements and new information become available. IMERC would appreciate receiving comments and suggestions on this bulletin; send your ideas to tgoldberg@newmoa.org.

IMERC was established by state environmental officials from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont to help them implement laws and programs aimed at getting mercury outof consumer products, the waste stream, and the environment. Washington State officially joined IMERC in 2003. IMERC is a program of the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA). In 2001 the NEWMOA member states launched IMERC to provide:

• ongoing technical and programmatic assistance to states that have enacted mercury education and reduction legislation
• a single point of contact for industry and the public for information on mercury-added products and member states’ mercury education and reduction programs

NEWMOA’s staff provides logistical, facilitation, and technical support for the activities of IMERC.

Back to top