the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of fossil Energy has been the primary sponsor of comprehensive extramural and in-house mercury research program for more than two decades. This program, implemented by the National Energy Technology Laboratory, aims to provide effective, low-cost mercury control options to owners of coal-fired power plants. key to the success of DOE's mercury research efforts has been the department's close collaboration with the coal and electric utility industries, EPRI, the U.S. EPA, and other stakeholder groups.