Encl. (7) to COMTINST 16478.12
Typical used AtoN batteries were found, after their normal service life, to
only contain a fraction of their original mercury content. The mercury
remaining in the batteries is in an elemental form that is not absorbed by
biological organisms, even if the batteries are not completely intact.
Well over half (60%) of the discarded batteries recovered to date were
fully intact. Intact batteries were found not to leak measurable amounts
of mercury.
COAST GUARD REACTION
Rear Admiral Peter A. Bunch, USCG, Chief of the Office of Engineering,
Logistics and Development at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC
characterized the research findings as positive:
"The Coast Guard has been working closely with the Volpe National
Transportation Systems Center to determine the environmental effects of
discarded AToN batteries. These findings do nothing to relieve us of our
responsibility to remedy the problem in accordance with federal and state
requirements, but it is good to have solid scientific evidence that discarded
AToN batteries are limited to a waste problem, and not a health or
environmental hazard."
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
The U.S. Coast Guard operates approximately 16,500 lighted aids to navigation
(AToN) consisting primarily of fixed navigational lights and buoys. AToN are
located throughout the country on navigable waterways and in U.S. territorial
waters in other parts of the world. Before the 1980's, lighted AtoN were
powered by various types and sizes of "one time use" wet cell/gel cell
batteries. In the mid-1980's, the Coast Guard began converting most of its
lighted AToN to solar power, substantially reducing its reliance on expendable
batteries.
Prior to the 1970's, the Coast Guard, like the rest of the nation, did not have
the environmental awareness that exists today. Although before 1973 there were
no directives that said what to do with used batteries, it was never Coast
Guard policy to dispose of them in the water. In 1973, the Coast Guard issued
instructions that set procedures for battery recycling and proper disposal.
A small number of AToN batteries continue to get into the water when lighted
AtoN are hit by vessels, destroyed by bad weather or vandalized. It is Coast
Guard policy to immediately report accidental battery losses to federal, state
and local environmental authorities and to recover the batteries whenever
safely possible. The Coast Guard is developing methods for
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