EPA Drops Voluntary Effort, Pursues Rule To Control Mercury In Scrap Autos

EPA has abandoned plans for a voluntary program to remove mercury-containing switches from scrap automobiles following objections from the industry, and instead will develop a Clean Air Act rule that will target mercury emissions from electric arc steel furnaces that smelt scrap metal from those vehicles, according to agency sources. The upcoming rule will likely require the steel smelting industry to pay for mercury switch removal before smelting, a cost that could be passed on to automakers. New Jersey, Arkansas...