Omnibus Mercury Emissions Reduction Act of 2001

H.R. 2729, the Omnibus Mercury Emissions Reduction Act of 2001, proposes comprehensive federal regulations to reduce mercury pollution from industrial sources and consumer products. The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set strict emission limits for power plants, cement factories, and chemical manufacturing facilities, while also mandating the phase-out of mercury in most retail products unless a specific exemption is granted.

For the average citizen, this legislation aims to lower the risk of mercury exposure by requiring manufacturers to label mercury-containing items and establishing new protocols to keep these hazardous materials out of the public waste stream. Additionally, the bill focuses on public health protections by increasing monitoring of mercury levels in water bodies and fish, and by creating programs to study and address the health effects of mercury on high-risk populations. Although introduced in 2001, the bill did not advance past the committee stage and has not become law.