Progress Towards a New Measurement of the Electric Dipole Moment of   
199-Hg

We are currently undertaking a four vapor cell search for the  
permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of $^{199}$Hg. The existence  
of a nonzero EDM would imply a source of CP violation beyond the  
standard model. The present limit on the EDM of $^{199}$Hg is |Hg| <  
2.1 $\times 10^{-28}$ e cm, established several years ago by our  
group at the University of Washington. In that experiment, two quartz  
vapor cells containing polarized Hg vapor were placed in parallel  
magnetic and anti-parallel electric fields, and the spin precession  
frequency was measured using an optical technique. In our current  
experiment, two additional cells at zero electric field serve to  
cancel magnetic gradient noise and to improve limits on systematic  
effects. We have recently overcome several systematic issues and  
begun acquiring data with our upgraded apparatus. To prevent  
experimenter bias from influencing the data, we have also instituted  
a blind analysis protocol. The statistical error of the data at the  
time of this writing was 0.15 $\times 10^{-28}$ e cm, and we hope to  
improve the sensitivity by a further factor of two. I will discuss  
recent progress and our plans to place improved limits on systematic  
effects.