[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4325 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4325
To establish a task force to address the impacts of the chemical 6PPD
and its byproduct 6PPD-Q on coho salmon and the environment and to
promote research and funding opportunities for an alternative to 6PPD,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 16 (legislative day, April 14), 2026
Mr. Merkley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a task force to address the impacts of the chemical 6PPD
and its byproduct 6PPD-Q on coho salmon and the environment and to
promote research and funding opportunities for an alternative to 6PPD,
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 ``6PPD Task Force Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) 6PPD.--The term ``6PPD'' means the chemical compound N-
(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'- 11 phenyl-p-phenylenediamine.
(2) 6PPD-Q.--The term ``6PPD-Q'' means 6PPD-quinone.
(3) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the 6PPD
Task Force established pursuant to section 4(a).
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) 6PPD is a chemical commonly used in all motor vehicle
tires, military vehicle tires, and aircraft tires, contributing
to passenger safety by preventing tires from degrading quickly
and ensuring tire durability;
(2) as 6PPD in tires reacts with oxygen or ozone in the
environment, 6PPD breaks down and transforms into compounds,
including 6PPD-Q;
(3) stormwater runoff may cause tire and road wear
particles containing 6PPD-Q to wash into streams, rivers, and
other bodies of water that are habitats for aquatic species,
such as Pacific salmon;
(4) 6PPD-Q from stormwater runoff is acutely toxic to adult
and juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch);
(5) private-sector efforts exist in the United States to
develop, while also prioritizing motor vehicle passenger safety
and environmental impacts, potential alternatives to 6PPD that
will not--
(A) transform into 6PPD-Q and enter into waterways,
where 6PPD-Q may lead to coho salmon mortality; or
(B) harm other wildlife species or people;
(6) finding a 6PPD alternative has national security,
domestic supply chain, and environmental and human health
implications and must be addressed in a timely manner; and
(7) efforts to replace 6PPD must ensure continued
compliance with vehicle safety and performance standards
critical to passenger and public safety.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF 6PPD TASK FORCE.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation
with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall,
to the extent practicable, enter into an agreement with the National
Academy of Sciences pursuant to which the National Academy of Sciences
shall establish a task force, to be known as the ``6PPD Task Force''.
(b) Duties.--The Task Force shall--
(1) improve data and information sharing for research into
an alternative to 6PPD among Federal agencies, research
institutions, and State, Tribal, and local governments for the
purposes of--
(A) identifying the potential impacts of 6PPD on
coho salmon, other aquatic species, human health, and
the environment; and
(B) mitigating the adverse effects of 6PPD on water
quality, human health, and the environment;
(2) identify and recommend Federal funding opportunities to
researchers, institutions of higher education, State, Tribal,
and local governments, tire manufacturers, chemical suppliers,
tire additive manufacturers, and other entities--
(A) to study the potential impacts of 6PPD, related
compounds, and their degradation products, including
6PPD-Q, on Pacific salmon, other economically or
ecologically valuable aquatic species, and human
health; and
(B) to develop an alternative chemical to 6PPD,
including scientific validation and scale-up activities
to commercialize 6PPD alternatives;
(3) identify and include in the annual report required
under subsection (g)--
(A) recommendations for expediting the
identification, toxicity, and performance testing of
safer alternatives to 6PPD; and
(B) opportunities to encourage the adoption of
safer alternatives to 6PPD in tires available on the
market;
(4) share with Federal agencies, research institutions, and
State, Tribal, and local governments best practices,
techniques, methodologies, and cost estimates for 6PPD
mitigation efforts, including street sweeping and stormwater
runoff treatment;
(5) identify and provide research to Federal agencies,
research institutions, and State, Tribal, and local governments
regarding pathways not related to motor vehicle tires through
which 6PPD exposure occurs, including exposure to 6PPD
through--
(A) reuse of tires, including for artificial turf;
(B) playground materials;
(C) artificial reefs;
(D) underwater tire piles; and
(E) other rubber materials; and
(6) share funding information, technical assistance, yearly
reports, and resources in an online repository accessible to--
(A) Indian Tribes;
(B) State departments of transportation;
(C) metropolitan planning organizations;
(D) State and local governments;
(E) tire manufacturers;
(F) chemical suppliers;
(G) tire additive manufacturers;
(H) institutions of higher education; and
(I) the public.
(c) Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed of the following
members:
(1) A designee of the Secretary of Transportation.
(2) A designee of the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency.
(3) A designee of the Secretary of Agriculture.
(4) A designee of the Director of the United States
Geological Survey.
(5) A designee of the Director of the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service.
(6) A designee of the Administrator of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration.
(7) A designee of the Director of the National Institutes
of Health.
(8) A designee of the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
(9) Not fewer than 4 representatives from Tribal
governments located on the western coast of the United States
with current knowledge of 6PPD impacts on coho salmon, who
shall be appointed by the National Academy of Sciences with
consideration given to differences in regional perspectives and
experiences.
(10) Not fewer than 4 representatives from the private
sector, who shall be appointed by the National Academy of
Sciences, including--
(A) 2 representatives from the tire manufacturing
industry; and
(B) 2 representatives from the tire chemical
additive manufacturing industry.
(11) Not fewer than 1 representative from the environmental
community, who shall be appointed by the National Academy of
Sciences.
(12) Not fewer than 2 representatives with expertise in
environmental and public health from State government agencies
with active 6PPD mitigation programs or that have documented
6PPD runoff impacts on aquatic species, who shall be appointed
by the National Academy of Sciences from not fewer than 2
different States.
(13) Not fewer than 1 representative from a university
research institution with experience researching 6PPD and
aquatic toxicology, who shall be appointed by the National
Academy of Sciences.
(d) Co-Chairs.--The members described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subsection (c) shall serve as the Co-Chairs of the Task Force.
(e) Meetings.--The Task Force shall meet not less than 3 times
annually.
(f) Inapplicability of FACA.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United States
Code (commonly referred to as the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act''),
shall not apply to the Task Force.
(g) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, and annually thereafter, the Task Force shall submit to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the
Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce
of the House of Representatives, and make publicly available, a report
that includes--
(1) the findings and recommendations of the Task Force; and
(2) a list of stakeholders and industry experts consulted
by the Task Force.
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