EPA Publishes Mercury Inventory Report, Enhances Transparency of Data on Supply, Use and Trade

Today, EPA published the 2020 Mercury Inventory Report on the supply, use, and trade of mercury in the United States in advance of the April 1, 2020 statutory deadline. As the agency celebrates advancements in chemical safety during the month of March as part of EPA's 50th anniversary, this action marks the completion of another important milestone under the Lautenberg Act amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and an important step to increase the transparency of data on mercury supply, use and trade.

This report presents aggregated data submitted on imported mercury, mercury manufactured in the United States, imported mercury-added products, mercury-added products made in the United States, and mercury used in manufacturing processes. The inventory report also provides a broad view of U.S. mercury stored, sold, and exported, as well as industry sectors and countries involved in the supply, use, and trade of mercury.

The 2020 Mercury Inventory Report is the first inventory published after finalizing the mercury inventory reporting rule. This means that the data presented in the report comes directly from the companies that are using, manufacturing, or importing mercury, providing EPA and the public with more reliable and complete information on the supply, use, and trade of mercury in the United States. The initial 2017 inventory, on the other hand, was limited to only publicly available data. In addition, this report incorporates data from contextual reporting requirements, which results in more extensive information on the industries that purchase mercury-added products, countries of origin and destination for imports and exports, and the specific ways that mercury is used in certain manufacturing processes.

Highlights of the report include:

• No indication of imports or exports of elemental mercury into or out of the United States during the reporting year.
• Continuation of the overall steady decline in the use of mercury in products, indicative of the growing presence and use of effective alternatives.
• A decrease in the amount of mercury used in switches and relays manufactured in or imported into the United States-data submitted also fills a significant information gap.
• Only a single mercury-based manufacturing process identified as ongoing in the United States.
• Information relevant for U.S. implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Read the inventory report: https://www.epa.gov/mercury/2020-mercury-inventory-report.

Background

The publication of the 2020 Mercury Inventory Report adds to a suite of completed mandates related to elemental mercury and mercury compounds per the Lautenberg Act amendments to the TSCA.

• In August 2016, EPA released a list of five mercury compounds that are prohibited from export effective January 1, 2020.
• In March 2017, EPA published the initial inventory report of mercury supply, use, and trade in the United States.
• In June 2018, EPA published the mercury inventory reporting rule, which established the reporting requirements that will support the 2020 and subsequent, triennial inventories.