I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2812

To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study of the potentially injurious effects to the environment 

and human health from imported electrolytic manganese metal that contains selenium. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 21, 2003

Mr. WHITFIELD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 

Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL

To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 

Agency to conduct a study of the potentially injurious 

effects to the environment and human health from imported electrolytic manganese metal that contains selenium.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Manganese Metal Safe5 ty Control Act of 2003’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY STUDY ON 

2 THE ADDITION OF SELENIUM TO THE PROC3 ESSING OF MANGANESE. 

4 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

5 (1) Manganese, in various forms, is critical to 

6 iron and steel production, is a key component in alu7 minum alloys and dry cell batteries, and is an essen8 tial nutritional element for plants, animals, and hu9 mans. 

10 (2) Consequently, manganese is present in die11 tary supplements, fertilizers, and animal feed, and in 

12 aluminum cans, building materials, and a wide array 

13 of other products used in daily life. 

14 (3) The United States is the largest consumer 

15 of manganese in the world, consuming over 500,000 

16 tons annually. 

17 (4) Though manganese metal can be obtained 

18 from oxide ores by reduction with carbon, aluminum, 

19 magnesium, or sodium, the majority is obtained by 

20 way of electrolysis. The electrolytic manganese man21 ufacturing process requires substantial consumption 

22 of electricity. 

23 (5) While the United States was once a signifi24 cant producer of manganese metal, it is now depend25 ent on foreign sources for this important industrial 

26 material. 
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1 (6) To improve the electrical current efficiency, 

2 some producers incorporate selenium in the produc3 tion of manganese metal. While this gains them cer4 tain economic advantages, it may come at a price to 

5 the environment and human health. 

6 (7) Selenium and various selenium compounds 

7 are listed substances under the Toxic Substances 

8 Control Act Inventory. Selenium is a persistent bio9 accumulative toxin. 

10 (8) Selenium is also listed in table 1 of section 

11 261.24 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, as 

12 a substance causing a waste that exhibits the char13 acteristic of toxicity, and hence be a hazardous 

14 waste. 

15 (b) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Administrator of the 

16 Environmental Protection Agency shall conduct a com17 prehensive study to determine whether electrolytic man18 ganese metal imported into the United States that con19 tains selenium poses any harmful effects to humans or the 

20 environment. 

21 SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

22 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Ad23 ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 

24 $100,000 for fiscal year 2004 to carry out this Act.

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