I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1675 To require a study on the public health and environmental impacts of the production, transportation, storage, and use of petroleum coke, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 11, 2019 Ms. TLAIB (for herself and Ms. KELLY of Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To require a study on the public health and environmental impacts of the production, transportation, storage, and use of petroleum coke, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Petroleum Coke Trans- 4 parency and Public Health Protection Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds the following: 7 (1) In the past several years, United States 8 crude oil refineries have grown their coking capacity 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Mar 22, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1675.IH H1675 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HR 1675 IH to accommodate the conversion of heavy crude oils 1 into refined petroleum products. 2 (2) As coking capacity has grown, the domestic 3 production of petroleum coke is expected to grow, 4 leading to increases in the storage, transportation, 5 and use of the material. 6 (3) In Detroit, piles of petroleum coke have 7 been stored in the open air on the banks of the De- 8 troit River. 9 (4) Uncovered piles of petroleum coke have also 10 been stored in Southeast Chicago near homes and 11 local baseball fields. 12 (5) State regulators, communities, and industry 13 stakeholders would benefit from a complete under- 14 standing of petroleum coke and the potential impact 15 on public health and the environment related to the 16 production, transportation, storage, and use of pe- 17 troleum coke. 18 SEC. 3. STUDY OF PETROLEUM COKE PUBLIC HEALTH AND 19 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. 20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 21 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and 22 Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator 23 of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of 24 Transportation, and the Secretary of Energy, shall submit 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Mar 22, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1675.IH H1675 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HR 1675 IH to Congress a report containing the results of a study con- 1 cerning petroleum coke that includes the following: 2 (1) An analysis of the public health and envi- 3 ronmental impacts of the production, transportation, 4 storage, and use of petroleum coke. 5 (2) An assessment of potential approaches and 6 best practices for storing, transporting, and man- 7 aging petroleum coke. 8 (3) A quantitative analysis of current and pro- 9 jected domestic petroleum coke production and utili- 10 zation locations. 11 (b) BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE.—The study under 12 subsection (a) shall be carried out using the best available 13 science, including readily available information from ap- 14 propriate State agencies, nonprofit entities, academic enti- 15 ties, and industry. 16 (c) PUBLICATION OF REPORT.—Not later than 180 17 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 18 of Health and Human Services shall publish on the Inter- 19 net website of the Department of Health and Human 20 Services the report described in subsection (a). 21 SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARDS. 22 Not later than one year after the date of enactment 23 of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Pro- 24 tection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Mar 22, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1675.IH H1675 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HR 1675 IH Transportation, shall promulgate rules concerning the 1 storage and transportation of petroleum coke that ensure 2 the protection of public and ecological health based upon 3 the findings of the study conducted under section 3. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Mar 22, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1675.IH H1675 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS