U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation Joseph Goffman joined industry stakeholders in renewing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP) to reduce mercury air emissions.
The MOU was also signed by the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), the End of Life Vehicle Solutions Corporation (ELVSC), the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI). Today’s action extends this MOU for the second time until July 1, 2027.
The NVMSRP MOU is a collaboration to reduce mercury air emissions, which was initially designed by EPA’s Sectors program and its partners in 2006. The program removes mercury from the stream of steel scrap originating from the retirement of cars and trucks, which is then consumed by domestic Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and integrated steelmakers. To date, the program has prevented the release of more than 8.2 tons of mercury into the atmosphere. Involving more than 10,000 recyclers, the NVMSRP has already removed and safely recycled more than 7.4 million automotive mercury switches.
NVMSRP partners said:
Philip K. Bell, SMA President: “We are pleased to have reached this extension. The ELVS program demonstrates how industry cooperation and leadership can lead to good environmental results. Over 7 million mercury switches, containing a total of over 8.2 tons of mercury have been recycled preventing it from being released into the environment. The SMA is proud to be a partner and leader in this effort.”
Kevin Dempsey, AISI President and CEO: “This program is an efficient solution for ensuring mercury from vehicle switches is removed from the environment. The partnership exemplified by the MOU is a great example of what can be accomplished when the government and private sector work together on environmental preservation, and we look forward to continued cooperation between the steel and auto industries on this important initiative.”
Matthew Duffy, ELVSC President: “The ELVSC team is happy that EPA has re-affirmed its commitment to this important nationwide program. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners, SMA and AISI, in our ongoing effort to recycle automotive mercury switches.”
Robin Wiener, ISRI President: “The extension of the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program assures continuity of an important program for recyclers, the steel industry, and the auto industry, that benefits the environment. The program continues the safe and secure removal of mercury switches from vehicles. ISRI members who handle end-of-life vehicles will be able to continue to participate in and benefit from this valuable environmental program. We are proud to continue our partnership with the EPA and other signatories on this very important effort.”
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Contacts:
SMA – Eric Stuart, stuart@steelnet.org; 202-296-1515
AISI – Lisa Harrison, lharrison@steel.org; 202-452-7115
ELVSC – Matthew Duffy, mduffy6@ford.com; 313-701-6784
ISRI – Justin Short, jshort@isri.org; 202-662-8500
A link to the letter can be found here.
