The Honorable Carol Browner
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator Browner:

I am writing to respectively request the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to extend the forty-five day comment period on its June 30, 1997 "Mercury Emissions from the Disposal of Fluorescent Lamps" report. An extension is necessary to ensure that all parties have adequate time to submit potentially relevant and important information.

EPA has proposed a rule to either conditionally exempt mercury-containing lamps from the hazardous waste regulations or include them in the universal waste rule. The mercury emissions report is expected to factor into EPA's decision on how to regulate the management of mercury-containing lamps.

In a resolution I and other Members of Congress recently introduced, it was noted that landfill air emissions test data for mercury was lacking. The resolution called on EPA to begin landfill testing in pilot sites across the country. In the meantime, some preliminary landfill tests for mercury have been conducted and additional time is needed to finalize the results.

For the above reasons, I strongly urge the EPA to extend the comment period. The result of EPA's mercury emissions study and upcoming decision on the management of mercury containing lamps are significant and may potentially impact on public health and the environment for the foreseeable future.

Thank you for considering this request.

Sincerely,

PATRICK LEAHY
United States Senator