Feds Seek Ideas for Storing Tons of Toxic Mercury
Published Date: 1/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The Department of Energy wants to hear from companies that can safely treat and dispose of elemental mercury. They’re planning new rules and fees to manage mercury waste better, aiming to follow important laws and keep everyone safe. If you’re involved in mercury cleanup or disposal, now’s the time to share your ideas before March 3, 2025!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Potential Large T&D Contract Demand
DOE may seek treatment and disposal (T&D) services for elemental mercury, initially for up to 120 metric tons that DOE holds title to, with options to scale capacity to 1,500–2,000 MT or 2,000–3,000 MT over a maximum 5-year period of performance. Contractors and small businesses with infrastructure and permits to treat and dispose of these volumes are invited to provide capability statements.
Planned Fee for Mercury Management
DOE is considering a future rulemaking that would establish a fee to provide long-term management and storage of elemental mercury as part of implementing the Mercury Export Ban Act. This RFI is being used to inform that potential fee rulemaking.
Deadline to Submit Capability Statements
If you are a contractor or small business interested in providing T&D services, submit written comments or capability statements by March 3, 2025, preferably as Microsoft Word or PDF files and 15 pages or less. Responses are requested for DOE market research and are not a contract solicitation.
DOE Will Not Pay for Submissions
DOE will not pay respondents for information submitted in response to this RFI, and a response does not create a contract or binding commitment. DOE may use submitted information to inform future acquisition activity and fee rulemaking and provides instructions for submitting confidential business information under 10 CFR 1004.11.
Possible Leasehold Requirement for Facilities
DOE may require a leasehold interest in real property where treatment and disposal services are provided; respondents are asked to discuss any impacts this may have on their ability to respond to a future request for proposal. Firms that own or operate facilities should consider and describe leasehold or site-access implications.
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