[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 319 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 319

   To express the sense of Congress regarding regulation of mercury 
                hazardous waste, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 29, 1994

     Mr. Sabo (for himself and Mr. Torres) submitted the following 
 concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
                              and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   To express the sense of Congress regarding regulation of mercury 
                hazardous waste, and for other purposes.

Whereas there has been a 2- to 3-fold global increase in mercury in the 
        environment since the 1850's, increases of 3.4 times have been found in 
        wilderness areas of the United States, and much higher increases have 
        been found in developed areas of the United States;
Whereas mercury is truly a national and international concern because mercury is 
        atmospherically transported indiscriminately across political 
        boundaries;
Whereas mercury poses a serious and growing public health and environmental 
        problem even when released in minute quantities;
Whereas mercury presents particular problems in aquatic systems where mercury 
        bioaccumulates;
Whereas human consumption advisories have been issued in at least 34 States 
        because of the high levels of mercury contamination in fish, resulting 
        in losses to the tourism and fishing industries and related activities;
Whereas atmospheric deposition resulting from human activities, including waste 
        disposal, contributes most of the mercury loading to the environment;
Whereas numerous studies have indicated that mercury-containing lamps will soon 
        become the largest contributor of mercury to municipal waste streams in 
        the United States;
Whereas the United States, through the Environmental Protection Agency, is 
        working cooperatively within the international community to reduce 
        global risks of mercury in the environment;
Whereas the Environmental Protection Agency is already actively supporting 
        efforts to virtually eliminate releases of mercury in the Great Lakes 
        Region; and
Whereas the waste management priorities of the United States encourage recycling 
        before waste disposal: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that the Environmental Protection 
Agency should not exempt mercury hazardous wastes from hazardous waste 
regulation but instead should adopt waste management policies and rules 
that seek to minimize all releases of mercury into the environment 
while encouraging the recycling of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps 
and other mercury-containing devices.
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