I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1167 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a program to dem-
onstrate the use of asphalt produced with an asphalt binder made from 
biomass in highway construction projects. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 25, 2009 
Mr. CARNAHAN (for himself and Mr. SCHOCK) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a pro-
gram to demonstrate the use of asphalt produced with 
an asphalt binder made from biomass in highway con-
struction projects. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Green Streets Act of 
2009’’. 
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SEC. 2. USE OF ASPHALT PRODUCED WITH ASPHALT BIND-
ER MADE FROM BIOMASS IN HIGHWAY CON-
STRUCTION PROJECTS. 
(a) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.—The Secretary of 
Transportation shall conduct a program to demonstrate 
the use of asphalt produced with an asphalt binder made 
from biomass (in this section referred to as ‘‘qualified as-
phalt’’) in highway construction projects. 
(b) GRANTS.—In conducting the program, the Sec-
retary shall make grants to not more than 4 States. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under the program, a State shall submit to the Secretary 
an application that is in such form and contains such in-
formation as the Secretary may require. 
(d) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting from among 
States applying for grants under this section, the Sec-
retary shall ensure that qualified asphalt is tested under 
the program in a variety of traffic and weather conditions. 
(e) USE OF GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), a 
State shall use the grant funds received by the State 
under this section to acquire qualified asphalt for 
use in highway construction projects eligible for as-
sistance under title 23, United States Code, and to 
conduct activities, in accordance with guidelines to 
be issued by the Secretary, to assess the feasibility 
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and desirability of the future use of qualified asphalt 
in such projects. 
(2) PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.—A State 
shall use not less than 40 percent of the grant funds 
received by the State under this section in a fiscal 
year to provide financial assistance to one or more 
private entities for activities related to the produc-
tion of qualified asphalt, including the design, con-
struction, and operation of thermochemical waste 
conversion units, subject to the terms of a partner-
ship agreement to be entered into by the State and 
the private entity. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to 
Congress a report on the results of the program, including 
information concerning— 
(1) potential cost savings associated with the 
construction of highways using qualified asphalt; 
(2) the durability of highways constructed using 
qualified asphalt; and 
(3) the environmental impact of constructing 
highways using qualified asphalt. 
(g) BIOMASS DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘biomass’’ means organic material derived from plants 
and animals, including manure, wood, and plant material. 
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