Reducing Mercury Use and Release in Andean Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs’ (OES) Office of Environmental Policy at the Department of State announces the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Reducing Mercury Use and Release in Andean Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM). The purpose is to galvanize actions that will reduce mercury use and release in the Andean ASGM sector; the cooperative agreement issued with FY 2009 funds will focus on work in Peru. The Recipient will work collaboratively with the U.S. Embassy in Peru in order to help implement, in an approach consistent with Peru’s national law and policy, best practices and/or pilot projects that reduce mercury use and release in Peru’s ASGM sector. There are multiple ways to reduce mercury use and release in ASGM, including eliminating whole ore amalgamation, promoting retorts, using other mercury-capture devices, encouraging mercury-free alternatives, assisting miners to formalize, and coordinating closely with local and national governmental bodies to develop effective regulatory approaches. OES will give full consideration to proposals which incorporate any of these activities, as well as to other innovative approaches.