Tagged: mercury

Updated at 5:50 p.m. to add comments from Senator Roy Blunt.

The U.S. Senate has rejected a bill that would have done away with new federal limits on mercury and other toxic air pollutants from power plants.

The resolution introduced by Republican Senator James Inhofe would have eliminated the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency in December.

Missouri’s senators were divided on the issue.

The Department of Natural Resources is launching a statewide roundup of mercury in Missouri. There will be around 50 mercury drop-off sites in the state, including four in the St. Louis area.

The department is working with fire departments and county health offices to provide drop-off locations where citizens and non-profit agencies can leave instruments containing mercury like thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, thermostats or switches.