[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1397 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1397

 To authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
to award grants for electronic device recycling research, development, 
          and demonstration projects, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 6, 2009

    Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                      Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
to award grants for electronic device recycling research, development, 
          and demonstration projects, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Electronic Device Recycling Research 
and Development Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The volume of electronic devices in the United States 
        is substantial and will continue to grow. The Environmental 
        Protection Agency estimates that over 2 billion computers, 
        televisions, wireless devices, printers, gaming systems, and 
        other devices have been sold since 1980, generating 2 million 
        tons of unwanted electronic devices in 2005 alone.
            (2) Electronic devices can be recycled or refurbished to 
        recover and conserve valuable materials, such as gold, copper, 
        and platinum. However, according to the Environmental 
        Protection Agency, only 15 to 20 percent of electronic devices 
        discarded from households reach recyclers.
            (3) The electronic device recycling industry in the United 
        States is growing; however, challenges remain for the recycling 
        of electronic devices by households and other small generators. 
        Collection of such electronic devices is expensive, and 
        separation and proper recycling of some of the materials 
        recovered, like lead from cathode-ray tube televisions, is 
        costly.
            (4) The export of unwanted electronic devices to developing 
        countries also presents a serious challenge. The crude methods 
        of many of the recycling operations in these countries can 
        expose workers to harmful chemicals, jeopardizing their health 
        and polluting the environment.
            (5) Some of the challenges to increasing the recyclability 
        of electronic devices can be addressed by improving the 
        logistics and technology of the collection and recycling 
        process, designing electronic devices to avoid the use of 
        hazardous materials and to be more easily recycled, and 
        encouraging the use of recycled materials in more applications.
            (6) The public currently does not take full advantage of 
        existing electronic device recycling opportunities. Studying 
        factors that influence behavior and educating consumers about 
        responsible electronic device recycling could help communities 
        and private industry develop recycling programs that draw more 
        participation.
            (7) The development of tools and technologies to increase 
        the lifespan of electronic devices and to promote their safe 
        reuse would decrease the impact of the production of electronic 
        devices on the environment and likely increase the 
        recyclability of such devices.
            (8) Accurately assessing the environmental impacts of the 
        production of electronic devices and the recycling of such 
        devices is a complex task. Data, tools, and methods to better 
        quantify these impacts would help policymakers and others 
        determine the best end-of-life management options for 
        electronic devices.

SEC. 3. ELECTRONIC DEVICE ENGINEERING RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND 
              DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall award multiyear grants to 
consortia to conduct research to create innovative and practical 
approaches to manage the environmental impacts of electronic devices 
and, through the conduct of this research, to contribute to the 
professional development of scientists, engineers, and technicians in 
the fields of electronic device manufacturing, design, refurbishing, 
and recycling. The grants awarded under this section shall support 
research to--
            (1) increase the efficiency of and improve electronic 
        device collection and recycling;
            (2) expand the uses and applications for materials 
        recovered from electronic devices;
            (3) develop and demonstrate environmentally friendly 
        alternatives to the use of hazardous and potentially hazardous 
        materials in electronic devices and the production of such 
        devices;
            (4) develop methods to identify, separate, and remove 
        hazardous and potentially hazardous materials from electronic 
        devices and to reuse, recycle, or dispose of such materials in 
        a safe manner;
            (5) reconsider product design and assembly to facilitate 
        and improve refurbishment, reuse, and recycling of electronic 
        devices, including an emphasis on design for recycling;
            (6) conduct lifecycle analyses of electronic devices, 
        including developing tools and methods to assess the 
        environmental impacts of the production, use, and end-of-life 
        management of electronic devices and electronic device 
        components;
            (7) develop product design, tools, and techniques to extend 
        the lifecycle of electronic devices, including methods to 
        promote their upgrade and safe reuse; and
            (8) identify the social, behavioral, and economic barriers 
        to recycling and reuse for electronic devices and develop 
        strategies to increase awareness, consumer acceptance, and the 
        practice of responsible recycling and reuse for such devices.
    (b) Merit Review; Competition.--Grants shall be awarded under this 
section on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis.
    (c) Applications.--A consortium shall submit an application for a 
grant under this section to the Administrator at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information and assurances as the 
Administrator may require. The application shall include a description 
of--
            (1) the research project that will be undertaken by the 
        consortium and the contributions of each of the participating 
        entities, including the for-profit entity;
            (2) the applicability of the project to reduce impediments 
        to electronic device recycling in the electronic device design, 
        manufacturing, refurbishing, or recycling industries;
            (3) the potential for and feasibility of incorporating the 
        research results into industry practice; and
            (4) how the project will promote collaboration among 
        scientists and engineers from different disciplines, such as 
        electrical engineering, materials science, and social science.
    (d) Dissemination of Research Results.--Research results shall be 
made publicly available through--
            (1) development of best practices or training materials for 
        use in the electronic device manufacturing, design, 
        refurbishing, or recycling industries;
            (2) dissemination at conferences affiliated with such 
        industries;
            (3) publication on the Environmental Protection Agency's 
        Web site;
            (4) demonstration projects; or
            (5) educational materials for the public produced in 
        conjunction with State governments, local governments, or 
        nonprofit organizations on problems and solutions related to 
        electronic device recycling and reuse.
    (e) Funding Contribution From For-Profit Member of Consortium.--The 
for-profit entity participating in the consortium shall contribute at 
least 10 percent of the total research project cost, either directly or 
with in-kind contributions.
    (f) Protection of Proprietary Information.--The Administrator--
            (1) shall not disclose any proprietary information or trade 
        secrets provided by any person or entity pursuant to this 
        section;
            (2) shall ensure that, as a condition of receipt of a grant 
        under this section, each member of the consortium has in place 
        proper protections to maintain proprietary information or trade 
        secrets contributed by other members of the consortium; and
            (3) if any member of the consortium breaches the conditions 
        under paragraph (2) or discloses proprietary information or 
        trade secrets, may require the return of any funds received 
        under this section by such member.
    (g) Biennial Report.--Within 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator shall 
transmit a report to Congress that provides--
            (1) a list of the grants awarded under this section;
            (2) the entities participating in each consortium receiving 
        a grant;
            (3) a description of the research projects carried out in 
        whole or in part with funds made available under such a grant;
            (4) the results of such research projects; and
            (5) a description of the rate and success of the adoption 
        or integration of such research results into the manufacturing 
        processes, management practices, and products of the 
        electronics industry.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section:
            (1) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
            (2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
            (3) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REPORT ON ELECTRONIC DEVICE 
              RECYCLING.

    (a) In General.--In order to better recognize gaps and 
opportunities in the research and training programs established in this 
Act, the Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the 
National Academy of Sciences for a report, to be transmitted to 
Congress not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
on--
            (1) opportunities for and barriers to--
                    (A) increasing the recyclability of electronic 
                devices, specifically addressing--
                            (i) recycling or safe disposal of 
                        electronic devices and low value materials 
                        recovered from such devices;
                            (ii) designing electronic devices to 
                        facilitate reuse and recycling; and
                            (iii) the reuse of electronic devices; and
                    (B) making electronic devices safer and more 
                environmentally friendly, specifically addressing 
                reducing the use of hazardous materials and potentially 
                hazardous materials in electronic devices;
            (2) the environmental and human health risks posed by the 
        storage, transport, recycling, and disposal of unwanted 
        electronic devices;
            (3) the current status of research and training programs to 
        promote the environmental design of electronic devices to 
        increase the recyclability of such devices; and
            (4) any regulatory or statutory barriers that may prevent 
        the adoption or implementation of best management practices or 
        technological innovations that may arise from the research and 
        training programs established in this Act.
    (b) Recommendations.--The report under subsection (a) shall 
identify gaps in the current research and training programs in 
addressing the opportunities, barriers, and risks relating to 
electronic device recycling, and the report shall recommend areas where 
additional research and development resources are needed to reduce the 
impact of unwanted electronic devices on the environment.

SEC. 5. ENGINEERING CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

    (a) Grant Program.--The Administrator, in consultation with the 
Director of the National Science Foundation, shall award grants to 
institutions of higher education to develop curricula that incorporates 
the principles of environmental design into the development of 
electronic devices--
            (1) for the training of electrical, mechanical, industrial, 
        manufacturing, materials, and software engineers and other 
        students at the undergraduate and graduate level; and
            (2) to support the continuing education of professionals in 
        the electronic device manufacturing, design, refurbishing, or 
        recycling industries.
    (b) Eligible Entities.--The term ``institution of higher 
education'', as such term is used with respect to eligibility to 
receive a grant under subsection (a)(2), includes any institution of 
higher education under section 101(b) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(b)).
    (c) Outreach to Minority Serving Institutions.--The Administrator 
shall conduct outreach to minority serving institutions for the 
purposes of providing information on the grants available under this 
section and how to apply for such grants.
    (d) Merit Review; Competition.--Grants shall be awarded under this 
section on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis.
    (e) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be used 
for activities that enhance the ability of an institution of higher 
education to broaden the undergraduate and graduate-level engineering 
curriculum or professional continuing education curriculum to include 
environmental engineering design principles and consideration of 
product lifecycles related to electronic devices and increasing the 
recyclability of such devices. Activities may include--
            (1) developing and revising curriculum to include 
        multidisciplinary elements;
            (2) creating research and internship opportunities for 
        students through partnerships with industry, nonprofit 
        organizations, or government agencies;
            (3) creating and establishing certificate programs; and
            (4) developing curricula for short courses and continuing 
        education for professionals in the environmental design of 
        electronic devices to increase the recyclability of such 
        devices.
    (f) Application.--An institution of higher education seeking a 
grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
Administrator at such time, in such manner, and with such information 
and assurances as the Administrator may require.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section:
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
            (2) $5,150,000 for fiscal year 2011.
            (3) $5,304,000 for fiscal year 2012.

SEC. 6. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS PHYSICAL 
              PROPERTY DATABASE.

    (a) In General.--The Director shall establish an initiative to 
develop a comprehensive physical property database for environmentally 
friendly alternative materials for use in electronic devices.
    (b) Priorities.--The Director, working with the electronic device 
design, manufacturing, or recycling industries, shall develop a 
strategic plan to establish priorities and the physical property 
characterization requirements for the database described in subsection 
(a).
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section:
            (1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
            (2) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
            (3) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Consortium.--The term ``consortium'' means a grant 
        applicant or recipient under section 3(a) that includes--
                    (A) at least one institution of higher education, 
                nonprofit research institution, or government 
                laboratory; and
                    (B) at least one for-profit entity, including a 
                manufacturer, designer, refurbisher, or recycler of 
                electronic devices or the components of such devices.
            (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
            (4) Electronic device.--The term ``electronic device'' may 
        include computers, computer monitors, televisions, laptops, 
        printers, wireless devices, copiers, fax machines, stereos, 
        video gaming systems, and the components of such devices.
            (5) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (6) Minority serving institution.--The term ``minority 
        serving institution'' means an institution that is an eligible 
        institution under section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
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