[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2812 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2812

 To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
conduct a study of the potentially injurious effects to the environment 
   and human health from imported electrolytic manganese metal that 
                           contains selenium.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 21, 2003

Mr. Whitfield introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
conduct a study of the potentially injurious effects to the environment 
   and human health from imported electrolytic manganese metal that 
                           contains selenium.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Manganese Metal Safety Control Act 
of 2003''.

SEC. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY STUDY ON THE ADDITION OF 
              SELENIUM TO THE PROCESSING OF MANGANESE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Manganese, in various forms, is critical to iron and 
        steel production, is a key component in aluminum alloys and dry 
        cell batteries, and is an essential nutritional element for 
        plants, animals, and humans.
            (2) Consequently, manganese is present in dietary 
        supplements, fertilizers, and animal feed, and in aluminum 
        cans, building materials, and a wide array of other products 
        used in daily life.
            (3) The United States is the largest consumer of manganese 
        in the world, consuming over 500,000 tons annually.
            (4) Though manganese metal can be obtained from oxide ores 
        by reduction with carbon, aluminum, magnesium, or sodium, the 
        majority is obtained by way of electrolysis. The electrolytic 
        manganese manufacturing process requires substantial 
        consumption of electricity.
            (5) While the United States was once a significant producer 
        of manganese metal, it is now dependent on foreign sources for 
        this important industrial material.
            (6) To improve the electrical current efficiency, some 
        producers incorporate selenium in the production of manganese 
        metal. While this gains them certain economic advantages, it 
        may come at a price to the environment and human health.
            (7) Selenium and various selenium compounds are listed 
        substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory. 
        Selenium is a persistent bioaccumulative toxin.
            (8) Selenium is also listed in table 1 of section 261.24 of 
        title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, as a substance causing a 
        waste that exhibits the characteristic of toxicity, and hence 
        be a hazardous waste.
    (b) Study Required.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency shall conduct a comprehensive study to determine 
whether electrolytic manganese metal imported into the United States 
that contains selenium poses any harmful effects to humans or the 
environment.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency $100,000 for fiscal year 2004 to carry 
out this Act.
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