[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 30, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S6074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEVIN (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Stabenow, and Mr. 
        Brown):
  S. 1388. A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency and the Secretary of Energy, to conduct a study on 
the public health and environmental impacts of the production, 
transportation, storage, and use of petroleum coke, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am introducing today, with my colleagues 
Senators Durbin, Stabenow, and Brown, the Petroleum Coke Transparency 
and Public Health Study Act, which would require the Department of 
Health and Human Services to conduct a study on the health and 
environmental impacts of petroleum coke. This bill, which is a 
companion to a bill introduced by Representative Peters on June 6, 
2013, was motivated by a situation in Detroit.
  In March 2013, large piles of uncontained petroleum coke stored along 
the banks of the Detroit River became publicly visible, raising 
questions about the potential environmental and public health impacts. 
Sitting just feet from the Detroit River, the piles have grown to 
nearly three stories high over the past several months. I want to make 
sure that this low-grade fuel does not pose a threat to the people of 
Detroit or impair our waterways. The Detroit River is a valued resource 
that must be preserved and protected.
  Petroleum coke is a byproduct of refining crude oil into liquid fuels 
such as gasoline and diesel. It is a commodity that can be cofired with 
coal to produce low-cost energy. In recent years, a number of U.S. 
refineries have undergone expansions in order to accommodate increases 
in processing crude oil, including the Marathon refinery in Detroit, 
MI; the Cenovus refinery in Wood River, IL; and the BP refinery in 
Whiting, IN.
  With increases in crude oil processing in the United States and 
Canada, petroleum coke production is expected to rise. However, the 
impacts of petroleum coke on public health and the environment have not 
been fully assessed. Further, each State has different regulations for 
managing, storing, and transporting it. It is important that we 
understand the market projections for petroleum coke, how to properly 
manage it, and its potential impacts on public health and the 
environment.
  This bill would address these key knowledge gaps by requiring a 
comprehensive study on petroleum coke. The study would include an 
analysis of the public health and environmental impacts of the 
production, transportation, storage, and use of petroleum coke; an 
assessment of best practices for storing, transporting, and managing 
petroleum coke; and a quantitative analysis of current and projected 
domestic petroleum coke production and utilization locations.
  We should ensure that energy production occurs in a diligent and 
responsible manner and does not harm public health or our environment. 
With a changing energy market and limited dollars, we must have a 
comprehensive understanding of how to effectively and efficiently 
manage our future energy supply. This bill would give us the tools to 
properly manage petroleum coke production with good environmental and 
public stewardship.
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