99–010 

Calendar No. 72 

112TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 112–20 

HAZARDOUS WASTE ELECTRONIC MANIFEST 

ESTABLISHMENT ACT 

JUNE 7, 2011.—Ordered to be printed 

Mrs. BOXER, from the Committee on Environment and Public 

Works, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 710] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 710) to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to 

direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 

establish a hazardous waste electronic manifest system, having 

considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment 

and recommends the bill do pass. 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

The purpose of the bill is to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a hazardous waste electronic manifest system to track the cradle-to-grave management of 

hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery 

Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.). 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

In 1976 Congress passed the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.) (RCRA) that, among other things, 

established a federal program to regulate solid and hazardous 

waste management. In addition to defining solid and hazardous 

waste, Congress required the Administrator of the Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) to establish ‘‘such standards, applicable to 

generators of hazardous waste identified of listed under [RCRA], as 

may be necessary to protect human health and the environment.’’ 

One such requirement that Congress mandated was the ‘‘use of a 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
2 

manifest system and any other reasonable means necessary to assure that all such hazardous waste generated is designated for 

treatment, storage or disposal in, and arrives at, treatment, storage, or disposal facilities . . . for which a permit has been 

issued. . .’’ This law ensures that hazardous wastes are safely 

managed from ‘‘cradle to grave.’’ 

Beginning in 1980, EPA required the use of a paper manifest 

system to track federally-regulated hazardous wastes from their 

point of generation, along their transportation routes, to the place 

of final treatment, storage, or disposal. The paper manifest is a tool 

that requires each entity that handles the waste to sign and retain 

a copy of the manifest as the waste is transported. The paper manifest is currently comprised of six carbon-copies that must be filled 

out and signed by each person that handles the waste. Copies of 

the manifest must not only accompany the waste as it is transported but must be mailed to generators and state agencies and 

kept on-file by each regulated entity. 

The manifest system also provides information that the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires whenever a person offers, 

transports, transfers, or delivers hazardous waste. As a form of 

DOT required ‘‘shipping paper’’, the manifest conveys essential information needed if an emergency occurs during the transportation 

of hazardous waste, specifically the proper shipping name, hazard 

class, and phone numbers that enable responders to obtain additional information, when necessary. These information requirements negated the need of having another set of separate papers, 

namely a DOT shipping paper. 

The essential aspect of the manifest system is to ensure there is 

a traceable record showing who is in the control of the hazardous 

waste at any given time and where the hazardous waste is destined for its ultimate disposition. In general, the manifest also 

identifies the waste’s toxicity and quantity. This information is indispensable in the case of an emergency or release of hazardous 

waste. It also provides emergency response personnel with information on the hazardous waste’s potential to threaten human health 

and the environment. 

The EPA estimates the paperwork burden on states and private 

entities from manifests at between $193 million to over $400 million annually. However, EPA has not estimated the quantifiable 

and unquantifiable benefits that flow from having a reliable tracking system for hazardous waste that maintains accountability, provides information for the recovery of cleanup costs, and helps inform first responders about the threats and best steps to take to 

address dangerous chemical spills. 

In September 2006, EPA required all states to use one Uniform 

Hazardous Waste Manifest. The Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest was designed to reduce the reporting burden for generators, 

transporters, and other waste handlers who may have been subject 

to several versions of waste tracking systems with duplicate information. It also was designed to enable generators and transporters 

to meet both Department of Transportation and EPA regulatory requirements. Additionally, the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest 

has state information blocks, which allow states to require the 

entry of additional specific information to serve their state’s regulatory needs. 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
3 

In 2001, EPA proposed certain revisions to the manifest system, 

including the creation of a nearly paperless manifest program. 

While EPA reports that some commenters disagreed with the proposal, many stakeholders agreed that there was a need for a centralized, consistent, secure, cost-effective, and web-based service for 

manifests. Some of the potential benefits that would come from 

such a national system would include greater benefits to users and 

regulators, such as one-stop reporting; more effective oversight and 

enforcement; nearly real-time tracking of waste shipments; and potentially increased efficiency of collecting and managing manifest 

data and similar waste data collected for reporting purposes. 

The EPA refined their draft approach in subsequent stakeholder 

meetings, and later as part of regulatory proposals in 2006 and 

2008—which past legislative measures were based upon to create 

such a system. In 2008, EPA stated that its proposed rule for an 

electronic manifest system could affect up to 223,000 entities in almost 600 industries involved in shipping approximately 12 million 

tons of RCRA hazardous wastes annually, using 5 million EPA 

Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifests. 

SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE BILL

As a result of input from stakeholders and EPA, the bill (S. 710) 

requires the Administrator to create a hazardous waste electronic 

manifest system that may be used by any user of manifests, and 

that meets certain goals. 

The bill authorizes the Administrator to impose a fee on the 

users of this hazardous waste electronic manifest system. 

The bill authorizes the creation of a revolving fund, paid for by 

the regulated community, to allow the Administrator to pay for 

costs incurred in developing, operating, maintaining, and upgrading the hazardous waste electronic manifest system. 

The bill requires the Administrator to periodically report on the 

financial status of the revolving fund to Congress and the Inspector 

General of the EPA to provide an accounting of the actual expenditures from the revolving fund. 

The bill allows the Administrator to enter into one or more contracts for the creation of a hazardous waste electronic manifest system, so long as any such contract achieves certain goals, including 

meeting the needs of the user community which includes states 

that rely on data from manifests. 

The bill requires the Administrator to create a Hazardous Waste 

Electronic Manifest System Governing Board to evaluate the effectiveness and make recommendations for improving the manifest 

system. 

The bill requires that facilities receiving hazardous waste also report so that a state can track waste that was generated in or 

shipped through the state. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
4 

Section 2. Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System 

Contains definitions, directs the Administrator to establish an 

electronic manifest system not later than three years after the date 

of enactment of the Act, and allows the Administrator to create 

user fees to pay for the costs of developing, operating, maintaining, 

and upgrading the electronic manifest system. The fees collected by 

the Administrator can only be used to pay the necessary costs incurred in developing, operating, maintaining, and upgrading the 

system. The Administrator is authorized to adjust the fees to cover 

current and projected system-related costs and to minimize the accumulation of unused amounts of money in the fund. 

The section establishes a Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest 

System revolving fund to pay costs incurred in developing, operating, maintaining, and upgrading the electronic manifest system. 

It also sets out certain requirements for investing and transferring 

fund resources, and auditing and reporting requirements to ensure 

accountability. 

Authorizes the Administrator to enter into contracts with one or 

more information technology contracts with entities that the Administrator deems appropriate and where the contractor agrees to 

assume the initial risk of the information technology investment 

and to obtain reimbursement for investment and operating costs by 

receiving as payment an agreed-upon share of amounts collected as 

fees by the Administrator. 

Such contracts shall have a term of not more than ten years and 

shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that a contract 

meets certain requirements, including the needs of the user community, which includes states that rely on data contained in manifests. 

Not later than three years after the date of enactment of the act, 

the Administrator must establish a Hazardous Waste Electronic 

Manifest System Governing Board, which will assess the effectiveness of the electronic manifest system and make recommendations 

for improving the system. The Board must be comprised of nine 

representatives, including individuals with experience in information technology, users of the manifest system in transporting hazardous waste, and state officials with experience in processing 

manifests. 

Not later than one year after enactment of this act, the Administrator must promulgate regulations to implant the act. The regulations must ensure that, to at least the same extent as paper manifests under federal and state law, the electronic manifests provide 

for the ability to track and maintain accountability of the person 

who certified that the information in the manifest is accurate and 

the person who acknowledges receipt of the manifest. Similarly, the 

electronic manifest must provide for state authority to access paper 

copies of manifests and provide for the public’s access to the information contained in the manifest. 

To ensure that states that track hazardous waste generated or 

shipped through their borders can continue to do so under an electronic manifest system, the facility that receives hazardous waste 

shall complete a facility portion of a manifest, sign and date a facility certification, and submit to the electronic manifest system a 

final copy of the manifest for inclusion in the system. 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
5 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY, COMMITTEE VIEWS AND VOTES

COMMITTEE VIEWS

The Committee believes that the manifest system, which has 

been in place for more than 20 years, provides one of the essential 

foundations for protecting human health and the environment from 

releases of hazardous waste. Manifests also play a pivotal role in 

federal and state enforcement of such safeguards. The Committee 

believes that the time has come to ensure that EPA has the authority to implement a safe, secure, and comprehensive electronic manifest system. 

The Committee expects that the electronic manifest system will 

significantly improve the management and enforcement of hazardous waste programs by providing an integrated tracking process 

that creates clear lines of accountability among the participants in 

the hazardous waste system. It will serve, together with the other 

requirements, to increase protections for human health and the environment during the transportation of hazardous waste by providing real-time information on the waste to persons handling the 

waste and to emergency response personnel. 

The Committee also anticipates that electronic manifests will expedite the processing and distribution of information that is the 

foundation for EPA’s recordkeeping, reporting, and management 

requirements and the public’s right to know about the generation, 

transportation, and disposal of hazardous waste. This system will 

conserve agency resources and help to improve agencies’ efficiency. 

The Committee also expects that the electronic manifest will facilitate the enforcement of protections for human health and the environment by increasing the accuracy and accessibility of information 

on hazardous waste. An electronic manifest system as envisioned 

by S. 710 could also produce homeland security benefits, with agencies having faster access to reliable data. 

The Committee expects that similar benefits will occur for state 

safeguards. Twenty-three states regularly accept and use manifests 

to protect public health and environmental quality, reduce and prevent pollution and target inspections and enforcement activities. 

The electronic manifest system will help to ensure that these states 

are working with a modern manifest system that enables them to 

better protect public health and the environment. An electronic 

manifest system also provides states that do not currently accept 

manifests with an easy-to-use system of tracking hazardous waste 

within their borders. 

An electronic manifest system will further reduce reporting burdens on entities that use the hazardous waste manifest system. 

This modernized system should also reduce business’ costs associated with using manifests. 

S. 710 establishes the outline for a centralized, consistent, secure, cost-effective, and web-based service for manifests that protects human health and the environment. The on-going negotiations between EPA and state officials will necessarily fill in many 

of the details needed to implement this system. The Committee expects EPA to work closely with the states and to address potential 

problems that could arise that may impact protecting for human 

health and the environment, enforcement of such protections, and 

the public availability of information. 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
6 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On September 7, 2006, Senator Thune introduced S. 3871, the 

Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act, which 

was referred to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. On September 28, 2006, the Committee on Environment 

and Public Works’ Subcommittee on Superfund Management held 

a legislative hearing to consider S. 3871. 

On June 10, 2008, Senator Thune introduced S. 3109, the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act, which was 

referred to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. 

On July 31, 2008, the full Committee on Environment and Public 

Works favorably reported S. 3109 by voice vote, demonstrating the 

broad bipartisan support for this measure. The Senate passed S. 

3109 by unanimous consent on September 26, 2008 and referred 

the bill to the House on September 27, 2008. 

On March 31, 2011, Senator Thune introduced S. 710, the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act. On April 14, 

2011, the Committee on Environment and Public Works favorably 

reported the bipartisan bill to the Senate by voice vote, again demonstrating the broad bipartisan support for this measure. 

REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that the Congressional 

Budget Office has found that ‘‘CBO expects that participants in the 

electronic manifest system created by the bill could save money in 

comparison to the paper manifest system. Participants include generators, transporters, and recipients of hazardous waste, as well as 

state agencies that collect copies of manifests.’’ 

MANDATES ASSESSMENT

In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 

(Public Law 104–4), the Committee notes that the Congressional 

Budget Office has said that the bill’s electronic manifest system 

would save money in comparison to the current paper system. Further, as more fully discussed below, CBO found that the cost of any 

mandates in the bill ‘‘would fall below the annual thresholds established in UMRA ($71 million for intergovernmental mandates and 

$142 million for private-sector mandates in 2011, adjusted annually for inflation).’’ 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

MAY 6, 2011. 

Hon. BARBARA BOXER, Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MADAM CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has 

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 710, the Hazardous 

Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Susanne Mehlman. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
7 

Enclosure. 

S. 710—Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act 

Summary: S. 710 would require the Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) to establish an electronic manifest system to track 

the handling of hazardous waste. This legislation would allow EPA 

to collect user fees to offset the cost of developing, operating, and 

maintaining the system. Under current law, individuals who handle hazardous waste must prepare a paper manifest, which is a 

form that provides a complete paper trail of a waste’s progress 

from a generator through its treatment, storage, and disposal. 

Under S. 710, generators or transporters of hazardous waste and 

the owners or operators of hazardous waste treatment, storage, or 

disposal facilities could elect to use the electronic manifest system 

or the existing paper system. 

Pay-as-you-go procedures apply to S. 710 because enacting this 

legislation would affect direct spending and revenues. CBO estimates that enacting S. 710 would increase both revenues and direct spending by $28 million over the 2011–2021 period. In addition, CBO estimates that implementing S. 710 would cost less than 

$500,000 annually in 2012 and 2013, subject to the availability of 

appropriated funds. 

S. 710 would impose intergovernmental and private-sector mandates, as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), 

on facilities that handle hazardous waste. CBO estimates that the 

cost of the mandates would fall below the annual thresholds established in UMRA ($71 million for intergovernmental mandates and 

$142 million for private-sector mandates in 2011, adjusted annually for inflation). 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of S. 710 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources 

and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2012– 

2016 

2012– 

2021 

CHANGES IN DIRECT SPENDING 

Estimated Budget Authority 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 35 

Estimated Outlays ............... 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 13 28 

CHANGES IN REVENUES 

Estimated Revenues ............ 0 0 0 6 5 5 3 3 3 3 11 28 

NET CHANGE IN THE BUDGET DEFICIT FROM CHANGES IN REVENUES AND DIRECT SPENDING 

Impact on Deficit a .............. 2 2 3 ¥3 ¥2 ¥2 0 0 0 0 2 0 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Estimated Authorization 

Level ................................ 0 * * 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 

Estimated Outlays ............... 0 * * 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 

Notes: * = less than $500,000. 

a Positive numbers indicate an increase in the deficit; negative numbers indicate a decrease in the deficit. 

Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that S. 710 

will be enacted by the end of fiscal year 2011. 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
8 

Revenues and Direct Spending 

S. 710 would authorize EPA to enter into a contract to develop 

and maintain the electronic manifest system in advance of, or in 

excess of, available appropriations. Based on information from 

EPA, CBO estimates that the contract would cost about $35 million. Because entering into the type of contract authorized by the 

legislation is an obligation of the federal government, its total 

cost—$35 million—would be recorded as new budget authority in 

2012. Though this legislation would also authorize EPA to collect 

user fees to offset the cost of establishing and maintaining this system, such fees could not be collected before the new system is in 

operation beginning in 2015. CBO expects that EPA would recover 

the costs of developing the system (about $22 million) within five 

years of its launch and that the agency would reduce user fees to 

a level that would cover maintenance costs once development costs 

were recouped. 

Based on information from EPA, CBO estimates that about 

114,000 users would obtain electronic manifests in 2015, with participation reaching 227,000 users in subsequent years. We estimate 

that, under this legislation, EPA would collect annual user fees totaling $28 million over the 2012–2021 period. 

Spending of the fees collected by EPA would increase direct 

spending and would likely begin in 2015. However, spending on developing the system would likely begin in 2012 because the legislation would give EPA the authority to spend fees in advance of their 

collection. CBO estimates that enacting this legislation would increase federal outlays by $28 million over the 2012–2021 period. 

Spending Subject to Appropriation 

Enacting legislation also would require EPA to develop regulations related to the implementation of the electronic manifest system not later than one year after enactment. CBO estimates that 

funding of less than $500,000 annually in 2012 and 2013 would be 

necessary to meet this requirement. 

Pay-as-you-go considerations: The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act 

of 2010 establishes budget reporting and enforcement procedures 

for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net 

changes in outlays and revenues that are subject to those pay-asyou-go procedures are shown in the following table. 

CBO ESTIMATE OF PAY-AS-YOU-GO EFFECTS FOR S. 710, THE HAZARDOUS WASTE ELECTRONICS 

MANIFEST ESTABLISHMENT ACT, AS ORDERED REPORTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS ON APRIL 15, 2011 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2011– 

2016 

2011– 

2021 

NET INCREASE OR DECREASE (¥) IN THE DEFICIT 

Statutory Pay-AsYou-Go Impact ... 0 2 2 3 ¥3 ¥2 ¥2 0 0 0 0 2 0 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 710 would impose intergovernmental and private-sector mandates, as defined in 

UMRA, on facilities that handle hazardous waste. CBO estimates 

that the cost of the mandates would fall below the annual threshVerDate Mar 15 2010 06:46 Jun 09, 2011 Jkt 099010 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR020.XXX SR020

tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
9 

olds established in UMRA ($71 million for intergovernmental mandates and $142 million for private-sector mandates in 2011, adjusted annually for inflation). 

The bill would require waste management facilities that receive 

hazardous waste generated in or shipped through other states to 

submit copies of shipment manifests to EPA. The bill also would 

authorize EPA to require those facilities and any hazardous waste 

management facility that uses a paper system to submit a copy of 

the manifest to the electronic system established under the bill. 

The mandated facilities would primarily be private entities but 

could include municipal and county landfills. Because the cost to 

complete a manifest and to submit a paper copy to the electronic 

system would be minimal, CBO estimates that the cost to comply 

with the mandates would be small. 

The bill also would authorize EPA to establish fees for users of 

the electronic manifest system. CBO estimates that such fees 

would total $6 million or less annually beginning in fiscal year 

2015. 

Other Impacts 

CBO expects that participants in the electronic manifest system 

created by the bill could save money in comparison to the paper 

manifest system. Participants include generators, transporters, and 

recipients of hazardous waste, as well as state agencies that collect 

copies of manifests. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Revenues: Mark Booth; Federal 

Spending: Susanne Mehlman; Impact on State, Local, and Tribal 

Governments: Ryan Miller; Impact on the Private Sector: Amy 

Petz. 

Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules 

of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill as reported 

are shown as follows: Existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in øblack brackets¿, new matter is printed in italic, existing 

law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman: 

* * * * * * * 

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT 

Subtitle A—General Provisions 

SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS

SEC. 1001. This title (hereinafter in this title referred to as ‘‘this 

Act’’), together with the following table of contents, may be cited as 

the ‘‘Solid Waste Disposal Act’’: 

[42 U.S.C. 6901] 

Subtitle A—General Provisions 

Sec. 1001. Short title and table of contents. 

Sec. 1002. Congressional findings. 

Sec. 1003. Objectives. 

Sec. 1004. Definitions. 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
10 

Sec. 1005. Governmental cooperation. 

Sec. 1006. Application of Act and integration with other Acts. 

Sec. 1007. Financial disclosure. 

Sec. 1008. Solid waste management information and guidelines. 

Subtitle B—Office of Solid Waste; Authorities of the Administrator 

Sec. 2001. Office of Solid Waste and Interagency Coordinating Committee. 

Sec. 2002. Authorities of Administrator. 

Sec. 2003. Resource recovery and conservation panels. 

Sec. 2004. Grants for discarded tire disposal. 

Sec. 2005. Labeling of certain oil. 

Sec. 2006. Annual report. 

Sec. 2007. General authorization. 

Sec. 2008. Office of Ombudsman. 

Subtitle C—Hazardous Waste Management 

Sec. 3001. Identification and listing of hazardous waste. 

Sec. 3002. Standards applicable to generators of hazardous waste. 

Sec. 3003. Standards applicable to transporters of hazardous waste. 

Sec. 3004. Standards applicable to owners and operators of hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. 

Sec. 3005. Permits for treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste. 

Sec. 3006. Authorized State hazardous waste programs. 

Sec. 3007. Inspections. 

Sec. 3008. Federal enforcement. 

Sec. 3009. Retention of State authority. 

Sec. 3010. Effective date. 

Sec. 3011. Authorization of assistance to States. 

Sec. 3012. Hazardous waste site inventory. 

Sec. 3013. Monitoring, analysis, and testing. 

Sec. 3014. Restrictions on recycled oil. 

Sec. 3015. Expansion during interim status. 

Sec. 3016. Inventory of Federal Agency hazardous waste facilities. 

Sec. 3017. Export of hazardous waste. 

Sec. 3018. Domestic sewage. 

Sec. 3019. Exposure information and health assessments. 

Sec. 3020. Interim control of hazardous waste injection. 

Sec. 3021. Mixed waste inventory reports and plan. 

Sec. 3022. Public vessels. 

Sec. 3023. Federally owned treatment works. 

Sec. 3024. Hazardous waste electronic manifest system. 

* * * * * * * 

Subtitle C—Hazardous Waste Management 

IDENTIFICATION AND LISTING OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

SEC. 3001. (a) CRITERIA FOR IDENTIFICATION OR LISTING.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 3024. HAZARDOUS WASTE ELECTRONIC MANIFEST SYSTEM. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Hazardous Waste 

Electronic Manifest System Advisory Board established under 

subsection (f). 

(2) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Hazardous Waste 

Electronic Manifest System Fund established by subsection (d). 

(3) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ includes an individual, corporation (including a Government corporation), company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, trust, 

municipality, commission, Federal agency, State, political subdivision of a State, or interstate body. 

(4) SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘system’’ means the hazardous waste 

electronic manifest system established under subsection (b). 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
11 

(5) USER.—The term ‘‘user’’ means a hazardous waste generator, a hazardous waste transporter, an owner or operator of a 

hazardous waste treatment, storage, recycling, or disposal facility, or any other person that— 

(A) is required to use a manifest to comply with any Federal or State requirement to track the shipment, transportation, and receipt of hazardous waste or other material 

that is shipped from the site of generation to an off-site facility for treatment, storage, disposal, or recycling; and 

(B)(i) elects to use the system to complete and transmit an 

electronic manifest format; or 

(ii) submits to the system for data processing purposes a 

paper copy of the manifest (or data from such a paper 

copy), in accordance with such regulations as the Administrator may promulgate to require such a submission. 

(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish a hazardous waste electronic manifest system that may be used by any 

user. 

(c) USER FEES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may impose on users 

such reasonable service fees as the Administrator determines to 

be necessary to pay costs incurred in developing, operating, 

maintaining, and upgrading the system, including any costs incurred in collecting and processing data from any paper manifest submitted to the system after the date on which the system 

enters operation. 

(2) COLLECTION OF FEES.—The Administrator shall— 

(A) collect the fees described in paragraph (1) from the 

users in advance of or as reimbursement for, the provision 

by the Administrator of system-related services; and 

(B) deposit the fees in the Fund for use in accordance 

with this subsection. 

(3) FEE STRUCTURE.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in consultation 

with information technology vendors, shall determine 

through the contract award process described in subsection 

(e) the fee structure that is necessary to recover the full cost 

to the Administrator of providing system-related services, 

including costs relating to— 

(i) materials and supplies; 

(ii) contracting and consulting; 

(iii) overhead; 

(iv) information technology (including costs of hardware, software, and related services); 

(v) information management; 

(vi) collection of service fees; 

(vii) investment of any unused service fees; 

(viii) reporting and accounting; 

(ix) employment of direct and indirect Government 

personnel dedicated to establishing and maintaining 

the system; and 

(x) project management. 

(B) ADJUSTMENTS IN FEE AMOUNT.— 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
12 

(i) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in consultation 

with the Board, shall increase or decrease amount of a 

service fee determined under the fee structure described 

in subparagraph (A) to a level that will— 

(I) result in the collection of an aggregate 

amount for deposit in the Fund that is sufficient to 

cover current and projected system-related costs 

(including any necessary system upgrades); and 

(II) minimize, to the maximum extent practicable, the accumulation of unused amounts in the 

Fund. 

(ii) EXCEPTION FOR INITIAL PERIOD OF OPERATION.— The requirement described in clause (i)(II) shall not, 

apply to any additional fees that accumulate in the 

Fund, in an amount that does not exceed $2,000,000, 

during the 3-year period beginning on the date on 

which the system enters operation. 

(iii) TIMING OF ADJUSTMENTS.—Adjustments to service fees described in clause (i) shall be made— 

(I) initially, at the time at which initial development costs of the system have been recovered by the 

Administrator such that the service fee may be reduced to reflect the elimination of the system development component of the fee; and 

(II) periodically thereafter, upon receipt and acceptance of the findings of any annual accounting 

or auditing report under subsection (d)(6), if the 

report discloses a significant disparity for a fiscal 

year between the funds collected from service fees 

under this subsection for the fiscal year and expenditures made for the fiscal year to provide system-related services. 

(d) HAZARDOUS WASTE ELECTRONIC MANIFEST SYSTEM FUND.— (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the Treasury of 

the United States a revolving fund, to be known as the ‘‘Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund’’, consisting 

of— 

(A) such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under 

paragraph (2); and 

(B) any interest earned on investment of amounts in the 

Fund under paragraph (4). 

(2) TRANSFERS TO FUND.—There are appropriated to the 

Fund amounts equivalent to amounts collected as fees and received by the Administrator under subsection (c). 

(3) EXPENDITURES FROM FUND.— 

(A) IN GENERAL—Subject to paragraph (2), on request by 

the Administrator, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 

transfer from the Fund to the Administrator such amounts 

as the Administrator determines to be necessary to pay 

costs incurred in developing, operating, maintaining, and 

upgrading the system under subsection (c). 

(B) USE OF FUNDS.— (i) IN GENERAL—Fees collected by the Administrator 

and deposited in the Fund under this section shall be 

available to the Administrator for use in accordance 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
13 

with this section without fiscal year limitation and 

without further appropriation. 

(ii) OVERSIGHT.—The Administrator shall carry out 

all necessary measures to ensure that amounts in the 

Fund are used only to carry out the goals of establishing, operating, maintaining, upgrading, managing, 

supporting, and overseeing the system. 

(4) INVESTMENT OF AMOUNTS.— (A) IN GENERAL—The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not, in the judgment of 

the Secretary of the Treasury and the Administrator, required to meet current withdrawals. 

(B) INTEREST-BEARING OBLIGATIONS.—Investments may 

be made only in— 

(i) interest-bearing obligations of the United States; 

or 

(ii) obligations, participations, or other instruments 

that are lawful investments for fiduciaries, trusts, or 

public funds, as determined by the Secretary of the 

Treasury. 

(C) ACQUISITION OF OBLIGATIONS.—For the purpose of investments under paragraph (1), obligations may be acquired— 

(i) on original issue at the issue price; or 

(ii) by purchase of outstanding obligations at the 

market price. 

(D) SALE OF OBLIGATIONS.—Any obligation acquired by 

the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at 

the market price. 

(E) CREDITS TO FUND.—The interest on, and the proceeds 

from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the 

Fund shall be credited to, and form a part of the Fund. 

(5) TRANSFERS OF AMOUNTS.— (A) IN GENERAL—The amounts required to be transferred 

to the Fund under this subsection shall be transferred at 

least monthly from the general fund of the Treasury to the 

Fund on the basis of estimates made by the Secretary of the 

Treasury. 

(B) ADJUSTMENTS.—Proper adjustment shall be made in 

amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior estimates were in excess of or less than the amounts required 

to be transferred. 

(6) ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING.— 

(A) ACCOUNTING.—For each 2-fiscal-year period, the Administrator shall prepare and submit to the Committee on 

Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that includes— 

(i) an accounting of the fees paid to the Administrator under subsection (c) and disbursed from the 

Fund for the period covered by the report, as reflected 

by financial statements provided in accordance with— 

(I) the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–576; 104 Stat. 2838) and amendments 

made by that Act; and 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
14 

(II) the Government Management Reform Act of 

1994 (Public Law 103–356; 108 Stat. 3410) and 

amendments made by that Act; and 

(ii) an accounting describing actual expenditures 

from the Fund for the period covered by the report for 

costs described in subsection (c)(1). 

(B) AUDITING.— (i) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of section 3515(c) 

of title 31, United States Code, the Fund shall be considered a component of an Executive agency. 

(ii) COMPONENTS OF AUDIT.—The annual audit required in accordance with sections 3515(b) and 3521 of 

title 31, United States Code, of the financial statements 

of activities carried out using amounts from the Fund 

shall include an analysis of— 

(I) the fees collected and disbursed under this 

section; 

(II) the reasonableness of the fee structure in 

place as of the date of the audit to meet current 

and projected costs of the system; 

(III) the level of use of the system by users; and 

(IV) the success to date of the system in operating on a self-sustaining basis and improving the 

efficiency of tracking waste shipments and transmitting waste shipment data. 

(iii) FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY.—The Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency shall— 

(I) conduct the annual audit described in clause 

(ii); and 

(II) submit to the Administrator a report that describes the findings and recommendations of the 

Inspector General resulting from the audit. 

(e) CONTRACTS.— (1) AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS FUNDED BY SERVICE FEES.—The Administrator may enter into 1 or more information technology contracts with entities determined to be appropriate by the Administrator (referred to in this subsection as 

‘contractors’) under which— 

(A) the Administrator agrees to award a contract for the 

provision of system-related services; and 

(B) the contractor agrees to assume the initial risk of the 

information technology investment, and to obtain reimbursement for investment costs, operating costs, and other 

fees, by receiving as payment an agreed-upon share of the 

amounts collected as fees by the Administrator under subsection (c). 

(2) TERM OF CONTRACT.—A contract awarded under this subsection shall have a term of not more than 10 years. 

(3) ACHIEVEMENT OF GOALS.—The Administrator shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that a contract awarded under this subsection— 

(A) is performance-based; 

(B) identifies objective outcomes; and 

(C) contains performance standards that may be used to 

measure achievement and goals to evaluate the success of 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
15 

a contractor in performing under the contract and the right 

of the contractor to payment for services under the contract, 

taking into consideration that a primary measure of successful performance shall be the development of a hazardous waste electronic manifest system that— 

(i) meets the needs of the user community (including 

States that rely on data contained in manifests); 

(ii) attracts sufficient user participation and service 

fee revenues to ensure the viability of the system; 

(iii) decreases the administrative burden on the user 

community; and 

(iv) provides the waste receipt data applicable to the 

biennial reports required by section 3002(a)(6). 

(4) PAYMENT STRUCTURE.—Each contract awarded under this 

subsection shall include a provision that specifies— 

(A) the service fee structure of the contractor that will 

form the basis for payments to the contractor; 

(B) the fixed-share ratio of monthly service fee revenues 

from which the Administrator shall reimburse the contractor for system-related development, operation, and 

maintenance costs and provide an additional profit or fee 

commensurate with the risk undertaken by the contractor 

in performing in accordance with the contract; 

(C) the amount of additional transactional costs attributed to— 

(i) the ancillary costs of the Administrator in implementing and managing the system, including the costs 

of integrating the applications of the contractor with 

the central data exchange architecture of the Environmental Protection Agency; 

(ii) the direct and indirect personnel costs incurred 

by the Administrator to employ personnel dedicated to 

the implementation and management of the system; 

and 

(iii) expenses incurred in procuring any independent 

contractor services to assist staff of the Administrator 

in the preparation of financial statements and reports 

and the conduct of regular user group and governance 

meetings necessary for the oversight of the system. 

(5) CANCELLATION AND TERMINATION.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Administrator determines that 

sufficient funds are not made available for the continuation 

in a subsequent fiscal year of a contract entered into under 

this subsection, the Administrator shall cancel or terminate 

the contract. 

(B) COSTS.—The costs of cancellation or termination 

under subparagraph (A) may be paid using— 

(i) appropriations available for performance of the 

contract; 

(ii) unobligated appropriations available for acquisition of the information technology procured under the 

contract; or 

(iii) funds subsequently appropriated for payment of 

costs of the cancellation or termination. 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
16 

(C) NEGOTIATION OF AMOUNTS.—The amount payable in 

the event of cancellation or termination of a contract entered into under this subsection shall be negotiated with the 

contractor at the time at which the contract is awarded. 

(D) AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS.—The Administrator may enter into a contract under this subsection for 

any fiscal year, regardless of whether funds are made specifically available for the full costs of cancellation or termination of the contract, if— 

(i) funds are available at the time at which the contract is awarded to make payments with respect to a 

contingent liability in an amount equal to at least 100 

percent of the estimated costs of a cancellation or termination during the first fiscal year of the contract, as 

determined by the Administrator; or 

(ii) funds described in clause (i) are not available as 

described in that clause, but the contractor— 

(I) is informed of the amount of any unfunded 

contingent liability; and 

(II) agrees to perform the contract despite the unfunded contingent liability. 

(6) NO EFFECT ON OWNERSHIP.—Regardless of whether the 

Administrator enters into a contract under this subsection, the 

system shall be owned by the Federal Government. 

(f) HAZARDOUS WASTE ELECTRONIC MANIFEST SYSTEM ADVISORY

BOARD.— 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 3 years after the date of 

enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish a 

board to be known as the ‘‘Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Advisory Board’’. 

(2) COMPOSITION.—The Board shall be composed of 9 members, of which— 

(A) 1 member shall be the Administrator (or a designee), 

who shall serve as Chairperson of the Board; and 

(B) 8 members shall be individuals appointed by the Administrator— 

(i) at least 2 of whom shall have expertise in information technology; 

(ii) at least 3 of whom shall have experience in using 

or represent users of the manifest system to track the 

transportation of hazardous waste under this subtitle 

(or an equivalent State program); and 

(iii) at least 3 of whom shall be a State representative responsible for processing those manifests. 

(3) DUTIES.—The Board shall meet annually to discuss, 

evaluate the effectiveness of and provide recommendations to 

the Administrator relating to, the system. 

(g) REGULATIONS.— 

(1) PROMULGATION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

enactment of this section, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section. 

(B) INCLUSIONS.—The regulations promulgated pursuant 

to subparagraph (A) may include such requirements as the 

Administrator determines to be necessary to facilitate the 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS
17 

transition from the use of paper manifests to the use of electronic manifests, or to accommodate the processing of data 

from paper manifests in the electronic manifest system, including a requirement that users of paper manifests submit 

to the system copies of the paper manifests for data processing purposes. 

(C) REQUIREMENTS.—The regulations promulgated pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall ensure that each electronic 

manifest provides, to the same extent as paper manifests 

under applicable Federal and State law, for— 

(i) the ability to track and maintain legal accountability of— 

(I) the person that certifies that the information 

provided in the manifest is accurately described; 

and 

(II) the person that acknowledges receipt of the 

manifest; 

(ii) if the manifest is electronically submitted, State 

authority to access paper printout copies of the manifest from the system; and 

(iii) access to all publicly available information contained in the manifest. 

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE OF REGULATIONS.—Any regulation promulgated by the Administrator under paragraph (1) and in accordance with section 3003 relating to electronic manifesting of 

hazardous waste shall take effect in each State as of the effective date specified in the regulation. 

(3) ADMINISTRATION.—The Administrator shall carry out regulations promulgated under this subsection in each State unless 

the State program is fully authorized to carry out those regulations in lieu of the Administrator. 

(h) REQUIREMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN

STATES.—In any case in which the State in which waste is generated, or the State in which waste will be transported to a designated facility, requires that the waste be tracked through a hazardous waste manifest, the designated facility that receives the 

waste shall, regardless of the State in which the facility is located— 

(1) complete the facility portion of the applicable manifest; 

(2) sign and date the facility certification; and 

(3) submit to the system a final copy of the manifest for data 

processing purposes. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REPORTS