II 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1763 

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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 14, 2015 

Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. PETERS) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public 

Works 

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. 

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 ‘‘Petroleum Coke Trans5 parency and Public Health Protection Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) In the past several years, United States 

9 crude oil refineries have grown their coking capacity 


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1 to accommodate the conversion of heavy crude oils 

2 into refined petroleum products. 

3 (2) As coking capacity has grown, the domestic 

4 production of petroleum coke is expected to grow, 

5 leading to increases in the storage, transportation, 

6 and use of the material. 

7 (3) In Detroit, piles of petroleum coke have 

8 been stored in the open air on the banks of the De9 troit River. 

10 (4) Uncovered piles of petroleum coke have also 

11 been stored in Southeast Chicago near homes and 

12 local baseball fields. 

13 (5) State regulators, communities, and industry 

14 stakeholders would benefit from a complete under15 standing of petroleum coke and the potential impact 

16 on public health and the environment related to the 

17 production, transportation, storage, and use of pe18 troleum coke. 

19 SEC. 3. STUDY OF PETROLEUM COKE PUBLIC HEALTH AND 

20 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

22 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and 

23 Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator 

24 of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of 

25 Transportation, and the Secretary of Energy, shall submit 


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1 to Congress a report containing the results of a study con2 cerning petroleum coke that includes the following: 

3 (1) An analysis of the public health and envi4 ronmental impacts of the production, transportation, 

5 storage, and use of petroleum coke. 

6 (2) An assessment of potential approaches and 

7 best practices for storing, transporting, and man8 aging petroleum coke. 

9 (3) A quantitative analysis of current and pro10 jected domestic petroleum coke production and utili11 zation locations. 

12 (b) BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE.—The study under 

13 subsection (a) shall be carried out using the best available 

14 science, including readily available information from ap15 propriate State agencies, nonprofit entities, academic enti16 ties, and industry. 

17 (c) PUBLICATION OF REPORT.—Not later than 180 

18 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

19 of Health and Human Services shall publish on the Inter20 net website of the Department of Health and Human 

21 Services the report described in subsection (a). 

22 SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARDS. 

23 Not later than one year after the date of enactment 

24 of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Pro25 tection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of 


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1 Transportation, shall promulgate rules concerning the 

2 storage and transportation of petroleum coke that ensure 

3 the protection of public and ecological health based upon 

4 the findings of the study conducted under section 3. 

Æ 


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