tools, and methods to better quantify these impacts 
would help policymakers and others determine the 
best end-of-life management options for electronic 
devices. 
SEC. 3. ELECTRONIC DEVICE ENGINEERING RESEARCH, 
DEVELOPMENT, 
AND 
DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall award 
multiyear grants to consortia to conduct research to create 
innovative and practical approaches to manage the envi-
ronmental impacts of electronic devices and, through the 
conduct of this research, to contribute to the professional 
development of scientists, engineers, and technicians in 
the fields of electronic device manufacturing, design, re-
furbishing, and recycling. The grants awarded under this 
section shall support research to— 
(1) increase the efficiency of and improve elec-
tronic device collection and recycling; 
(2) expand the uses and applications for mate-
rials recovered from electronic devices; 
(3) develop and demonstrate environmentally 
friendly alternatives to the use of hazardous and po-
tentially hazardous materials in electronic devices 
and the production of such devices; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:47 Jul 01, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2396.IH
H2396
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(4) develop methods to identify, separate, and 
remove hazardous and potentially hazardous mate-
rials from electronic devices and to reuse, recycle, or 
dispose of such materials in a safe manner; 
(5) reconsider product design and assembly to 
facilitate and improve refurbishment, reuse, and re-
cycling of electronic devices, including an emphasis 
on design for recycling; 
(6) conduct lifecycle analyses of electronic de-
vices, including developing tools and methods to as-
sess the environmental impacts of the production, 
use, and end-of-life management of electronic devices 
and electronic device components; 
(7) develop product design, tools, and tech-
niques to extend the lifecycle of electronic devices, 
including methods to promote their upgrade and 
safe reuse; and 
(8) identify the social, behavioral, and economic 
barriers to recycling and reuse for electronic devices 
and develop strategies to increase awareness, con-
sumer acceptance, and the practice of responsible re-
cycling and reuse for such devices. 
(b) MERIT REVIEW; COMPETITION.—Grants shall be 
awarded under this section on a merit-reviewed, competi-
tive basis. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:47 Jul 01, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2396.IH
H2396
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(c) APPLICATIONS.—A consortium shall submit an 
application for a grant under this section to the Adminis-
trator at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information and assurances as the Administrator may re-
quire. The application shall include a description of— 
(1) the research project that will be undertaken 
by the consortium and the contributions of each of 
the participating entities, including the for-profit en-
tity; 
(2) the applicability of the project to reduce im-
pediments to electronic device recycling in the elec-
tronic device design, manufacturing, refurbishing, or 
recycling industries; 
(3) the potential for and feasibility of incor-
porating the research results into industry practice; 
and 
(4) how the project will promote collaboration 
among scientists and engineers from different dis-
ciplines, such as electrical engineering, materials 
science, and social science. 
(d) DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS.—Re-
search results shall be made publicly available through— 
(1) development of best practices or training 
materials for use in the electronic device manufac-
turing, design, refurbishing, or recycling industries; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:47 Jul 01, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2396.IH
H2396
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) dissemination at conferences affiliated with 
such industries; 
(3) publication on the Environmental Protection 
Agency’s Web site; 
(4) demonstration projects; or 
(5) educational materials for the public pro-
duced in conjunction with State governments, local 
governments, or nonprofit organizations on problems 
and solutions related to electronic device recycling 
and reuse. 
(e) FUNDING CONTRIBUTION FROM FOR-PROFIT 
MEMBER OF CONSORTIUM.—The for-profit entity partici-
pating in the consortium shall contribute at least 10 per-
cent of the total research project cost, either directly or 
with in-kind contributions. 
(f) PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.— 
The Administrator— 
(1) shall not disclose any proprietary informa-
tion or trade secrets provided by any person or enti-
ty pursuant to this section; 
(2) shall ensure that, as a condition of receipt 
of a grant under this section, each member of the 
consortium has in place proper protections to main-
tain proprietary information or trade secrets contrib-
uted by other members of the consortium; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:47 Jul 01, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2396.IH
H2396
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(3) if any member of the consortium breaches 
the conditions under paragraph (2) or discloses pro-
prietary information or trade secrets, may require 
the return of any funds received under this section 
by such member. 
(g) BIENNIAL REPORT.—Within 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years there-
after, the Administrator shall transmit to Congress a re-
port that provides— 
(1) a list of the grants awarded under this sec-
tion; 
(2) the entities participating in each consortium 
receiving a grant; 
(3) a description of the research projects car-
ried out in whole or in part with funds made avail-
able under such a grant; 
(4) the results of such research projects; and 
(5) a description of the rate and success of the 
adoption or integration of such research results into 
the manufacturing processes, management practices, 
and products of the electronics industry. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this section: 
(1) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:47 Jul 01, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2396.IH
H2396
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2013. 
(3) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2014. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REPORT ON 
ELECTRONIC DEVICE RECYCLING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to better recognize gaps 
and opportunities in the research and training programs 
established in this Act, the Administrator shall enter into 
an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences 
for a report, to be transmitted to Congress not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, on— 
(1) opportunities for and barriers to— 
(A) increasing the recyclability of elec-
tronic devices, specifically addressing— 
(i) recycling or safe disposal of elec-
tronic devices and low value materials re-
covered from such devices; 
(ii) designing electronic devices to fa-
cilitate reuse and recycling; and 
(iii) the reuse of electronic devices; 
and 
(B) making electronic devices safer and 
more environmentally friendly, specifically ad-
dressing reducing the use of hazardous mate-
rials and potentially hazardous materials in 
electronic devices; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:47 Jul 01, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2396.IH
H2396
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) the environmental and human health risks 
posed by the storage, transport, recycling, and dis-
posal of unwanted electronic devices; 
(3) the current status of research and training 
programs to promote the environmental design of 
electronic devices to increase the recyclability of such 
devices; and 
(4) any regulatory or statutory barriers that 
may prevent the adoption or implementation of best 
management practices or technological innovations 
that may arise from the research and training pro-
grams established in this Act. 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The report under sub-
section (a) shall identify gaps in the current research and 
training programs in addressing the opportunities, bar-
riers, and risks relating to electronic device recycling, and 
the report shall recommend areas where additional re-
search and development resources are needed to reduce 
the impact of unwanted electronic devices on the environ-
ment. 
SEC. 
5. 
ENGINEERING 
CURRICULUM 
DEVELOPMENT 
GRANTS. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Administrator, in con-
sultation with the Director of the National Science Foun-
dation, shall award grants to institutions of higher edu-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:47 Jul 01, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2396.IH
H2396
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
cation to develop curricula that incorporates the principles 
of environmental design into the development of electronic 
devices— 
(1) for the training of electrical, mechanical, in-
dustrial, manufacturing, materials, and software en-
gineers and other students at the undergraduate and 
graduate level; and 
(2) to support the continuing education of pro-
fessionals in the electronic device manufacturing, de-
sign, refurbishing, or recycling industries. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The term ‘‘institution of 
higher education’’, as such term is used with respect to 
eligibility to receive a grant under subsection (a)(2), in-
cludes any institution of higher education under section 
101(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001(b)). 
(c) OUTREACH
TO MINORITY SERVING INSTITU-
TIONS.—The Administrator shall conduct outreach to mi-
nority serving institutions for the purposes of providing 
information on the grants available under this section and 
how to apply for such grants. 
(d) MERIT REVIEW; COMPETITION.—Grants shall be 
awarded under this section on a merit-reviewed, competi-
tive basis. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:47 Jul 01, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2396.IH
H2396
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(e) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants awarded under this sec-
tion shall be used for activities that enhance the ability 
of an institution of higher education to broaden the under-
graduate and graduate-level engineering curriculum or 
professional continuing education curriculum to include 
environmental engineering design principles and consider-
ation of product lifecycles related to electronic devices and 
increasing the recyclability of such devices. Activities may 
include— 
(1) developing and revising curriculum to in-
clude multidisciplinary elements; 
(2) creating research and internship opportuni-
ties for students through partnerships with industry, 
nonprofit organizations, or government agencies; 
(3) creating and establishing certificate pro-
grams; and 
(4) developing curricula for short courses and 
continuing education for professionals in the envi-
ronmental design of electronic devices to increase the 
recyclability of such devices. 
(f) APPLICATION.—An institution of higher education 
seeking a grant under this section shall submit an applica-
tion to the Administrator at such time, in such manner, 
and with such information and assurances as the Adminis-
trator may require. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:47 Jul 01, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2396.IH
H2396
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this section: 
(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
(2) $5,150,000 for fiscal year 2013. 
(3) $5,304,000 for fiscal year 2014. 
SEC. 6. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE MA-
TERIALS PHYSICAL PROPERTY DATABASE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish an 
initiative to develop a comprehensive physical property 
database for environmentally friendly alternative materials 
for use in electronic devices. 
(b) PRIORITIES.—The Director, working with the 
electronic device design, manufacturing, or recycling in-
dustries, shall develop a strategic plan to establish prior-
ities and the physical property characterization require-
ments for the database described in subsection (a). 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this section: 
(1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
(2) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2013. 
(3) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2014. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act: 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:47 Jul 01, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2396.IH
H2396
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS