by Colleen Luccioli, Greenwire

ECOS, an association of state and territorial environmental commissioners, is expected to adopt the resolution during its annual meeting currently underway in Tampa Bay, Fla.

The three-pronged resolution contains recommendations on national issues, stockpile and retirement, and multi-pollutant approaches.

In terms of national vision, the ECOS resolution calls on the White House and Congress "to articulate a goal of virtual elimination of mercury discharge into the environment at the national and international levels."

The resolution also calls on states and tribes to become involved in strategies and initiatives to achieve mercury reduction. The states are also called on to collect data on mercury uses so that short- and long-term trends can be tracked.

At the same time, state and federal governments are to identify any mercury uses considered to be essential, and identify any uses that could be eliminated.

The resolution also recommends that the federal government eliminate mercury stockpiles in excess of national needs and place limitations on the import and export of mercury.

"ECOS requests that the president of the United States issue a directive to federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, states and others involved in the storage and management of mercury to work to recommend a plan to manage the long-term storage of mercury by Jan. 1, 2003," the resolution reads.

The issue of mercury's presence and possible effects on public health has developed into a matter of immense concern to states. To date, more than 40 states and the Food and Drug Administration have adopted at least 2,073 public health advisories warning about mercury contamination.

In addition, several states and large municipalities - mostly located in the Northeast - are cracking down on the amount of mercury in the environment by outlawing mercury thermometers, which, some say, could render drinking water supplies unusable if even one thermometer contaminates a source.

EPA estimates 160 tons of mercury are released in the United States annually. Utilities are responsible for emitting over 50 tons of annually, and other major sources are mining operations, municipal and medical waste incinerators, and leaching from landfills into groundwater.

Mercury is a toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative substance that can cause adverse neurological and developmental health effects, especially to unborn or young children. Last summer, the National Academy of Sciences issued a report on the toxicological effects of mercury determining that more than 60,000 children born each year may suffer learning disabilities due to exposure to mercury.

Backround and Copy of ECOS Resolutions