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DEP Merges State Program With National Effort to Remove Mercury Switches From Cars

Posted on: Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 12:00 CST

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania is enhancing its mercury switch removal program to prevent the chemical from entering the environment where it can pollute air and water. It's doing this, said Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty, by merging its program with a similar, national effort to collect the hazardous substance from salvaged cars and end-of-life vehicles.

"Pennsylvania ranks sixth in the nation with an estimated 3 million cars containing mercury switches still on the road," McGinty said. "It is absolutely vital that we continue our progress to safely remove this toxic pollutant from older vehicles when they are sent to recyclers and scrap dealers for processing."

Mercury switches were used in vehicles, predominantly for convenience lighting in the hood and trunk and in some anti-lock braking systems, until being completely phased out in the 2003 model year. If mercury-containing switches are not removed before automobiles are recycled, the mercury is emitted into the air during the smelting process and, through deposition, ends up in the environment.

In the environment, mercury is transformed into methylmercury, which accumulates through the food chain. Once mercury enters the environment, it can remain as an active toxin for more than 10,000 years, endangering pregnant women, children and anglers. Health effects include brain, nervous system, heart and immune system damage.

In November 2004, McGinty launched a partnership with scrap dealers, the automotive-recycling industry and environmental groups to implement a voluntary mercury removal program. DEP awarded a $165,000 grant to the Pennsylvania Automotive Recycling Trade Society (PARTS) in October 2005 to administer the program and finance the $2 payment for every switch removed by participating automobile recyclers.

So far, Pennsylvania's incentive program has paid out more than $16,000 for the removal of more than 8,100 switches.

"PARTS appreciates the support DEP has provided to auto recyclers and dismantlers through their funding of this important program," PARTS Executive Director Mike Berk said.

The state program, established through a memorandum of understanding, expires Sept. 30, 2007. Merging with the national program, however, keeps the important initiative moving forward in Pennsylvania.

Automakers and steelmakers, which use more than 14 million tons of steel from scrap vehicles each year, have agreed to fund implementation of this program. The national project is expected to remove up to 75 tons of toxic mercury from the environment.

Under the national memorandum of understanding, the automobile manufacturers' responsibilities will include providing educational materials regarding mercury switch removal; arranging and paying for the proper recycling or disposal of the mercury switches; and paying for automobile recyclers to ship the intact anti-lock braking and lighting system assemblies for recycling.

Previously, the mercury switches had to be removed from the assemblies, costing recyclers time and money.

"This initiative represents a laudable commitment by a large number of stakeholders and undoubtedly will lead to a reduction of mercury emissions across the nation," McGinty said.

The responsibilities of the automobile manufacturers are coordinated by the End of Life Vehicle Solutions Corporation (ELVS).

"We are pleased to welcome Pennsylvania as one of the early adopters to the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program," ELVS Executive Director Mary Bills said. "On behalf of ELVS and all the partners in the NMVSRP, we look forward to carrying on the successful program begun several years ago by the state in order to reduce mercury emissions."

The mercury switch removal program is just one effort being pushed by Governor Edward G. Rendell to remove the toxic pollutant from Pennsylvania's environment.

Because of the health effects that mercury has on humans, wildlife and the environment, Governor Rendell proposed a state-specific rule that curbs mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The state plan requires an 80 percent reduction in mercury emissions by 2010, and 90 percent by 2015. Trading of mercury allowances is prohibited.

Governor Rendell's plan would cut mercury emissions faster and more substantially than a weaker rule put in place by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Pennsylvania ranks second, behind only Texas, both in terms of total mercury emissions from all sources and the total amount of mercury pollution from power plants. Nearly 80 percent of all mercury pollution in Pennsylvania comes from power plants.

The state-specific rule --- which drew 10,934 public comments, with fewer than three dozen of those opposed --- already has received three affirmative votes: The 16-member Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee agreed to submit the plan to the Environmental Quality Board on Sept. 28. EQB approved the rule Oct. 17. The Independent Regulatory Review Commission voted in favor of the plan Nov. 16.

The rule has been submitted both to EPA and the state Attorney General's Office for final review.

Details about Pennsylvania's mercury reduction efforts are available on DEP's Web site at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/.

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Department of Environmental Protection Commonwealth News Bureau Room 308, Main Capitol Building Harrisburg, PA 17120 CONTACT: Ron Ruman 717-787-1323

PA Department of Environmental Protection

CONTACT: Ron Ruman of the PA Department of Environmental Protection,+1-717-787-1323

Web site: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire

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