I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4480
To streamline and integrate the requirements for pollution related reporting
to the Environmental Protection Agency.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 17, 2000
Ms. DEGETTE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, 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 streamline and integrate the requirements for pollution
related reporting to the Environmental Protection Agency.
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 ‘‘Streamlined Pollution
Reporting and Technical Assistance Act’’.
SEC. 2. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish procedures for the streamlining and integration of
requirements under Federal law for routine and emer-
gency pollution related reporting to the Environmental
Protection Agency.
(b) 
PROCEDURES.—The 
procedures 
established
under subsection (a) shall, to the extent possible and con-
sistent with other Federal law—
(1) designate or establish an office to serve as
a single point of contact for all pollution related re-
porting to the Environmental Protection Agency, in-
cluding reporting by State, tribal, and local agencies
required to submit pollution related information to
the Environmental Protection Agency;
(2) permit pollution related reporting in paper
form or through electronic media, at the option of
the reporting person, for the first 5 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and thereafter re-
quire pollution related reporting through electronic
media;
(3) ensure the security of electronic reporting
procedures and associated databases;
(4) require the use of consistent and easily un-
derstood methods of description, units of measure-
ment, and terminology under all environmental laws
and regulations, developed in consultation with
State, tribal, and local governments, reporting per-
sons, including industry, scientists, engineers, envi-
ronmental groups, information technology experts,
and other relevant stakeholders;
(5) minimize duplicative reporting require-
ments; and
(6) include appropriate procedure variations for
different classes of reporting persons.
(c) 
PRESERVATION
OF
REPORTING
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to elimi-
nate, or to authorize the Administrator to eliminate, any
reporting requirement under Federal law.
SEC. 3. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH.
The office designated or established under section
2(b)(1) shall—
(1) provide education, training, and technical
assistance, including through electronic means, to
persons who may be required to report pollution re-
lated information to the Environmental Protection
Agency;
(2) inform potential reporting persons of re-
lated reporting requirements administered by other
Federal agencies;
(3) provide information useful for identifying
potential pollution;
(4) provide scientifically sound, publicly avail-
able information on pollution prevention technologies
and practices;
(5) develop and disseminate software, to the
maximum extent practicable, to assist reporting per-
sons in assembling required data, preparing and
submitting reports, and receiving information pro-
vided under this section;
(6) develop a strategy to provide timely assist-
ance to small businesses;
(7) provide information on models and best
practices for life cycle analysis of manufacturing
processes and products, including technical assist-
ance on economics, environmental, new market, and
product development issues for businesses interested
in developing new processes that reduce the use of
resources, or in manufacturing products in a way
that maximized their potential to be converted into
new products when their primary use expires; and
(8) provide both technical and financial assist-
ance to State, tribal, and local governments to assist
them in developing reporting requirements consistent
with the procedures established under section 2.
SEC. 4. OFFICE.
(a) DIRECTOR.—The office designated or established
under section 2(b)(1) shall be headed by a Director, who
shall report to the Administrator and shall have the au-
thority to ensure the compliance and coordination of all
offices of the Environmental Protection Agency with the
program established under this Act. The Director shall be
an individual with experience and expertise in environ-
mental management, information technology, and organi-
zational management and leadership.
(b) AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT.—The Administrator
may arrange for qualified public or private organizations
to perform functions described in section 3.
SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.
(a) INTEGRATION.—The Administrator shall encour-
age integration between the office designated or estab-
lished under section 2(b)(1) and State, tribal, and local
agencies on pollution related reporting procedures.
(b) OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS.—The Adminis-
trator may request from other Federal agencies informa-
tion on their pollution related reporting procedures. Such
other agencies shall promptly comply with the Administra-
tor’s request.
SEC. 6. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator, in con-
sultation with the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, the Director of the National Science
Foundation, and the Secretary of Energy, shall establish
an advisory committee comprised of appropriate rep-
resentatives from industry, academia, government, and
any other organizations deemed appropriate.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the advisory com-
mittee shall be to advise the Congress on—
(1) the status of industrial ecology or life cycle
analysis for reducing pollution and increasing re-
source use efficiency;
(2) the elimination of barriers to, and the in-
crease in utilization of, industrial ecology or life
cycle analysis by the public and private sectors;
(3) the technical capacity and expertise in the
United States for conducting industrial ecology or
life cycle analyses; and
(4) the need for basic and applied research and
development to improve the capacity of industrial
ecology or life cycle analysis.
(c) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the advisory committee shall
transmit an interim report to the Congress. Not later than
2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
advisory committee shall transmit a final report to the
Congress.