I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2812
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to con-
duct a study of the potentially injurious effects to the environment 
and human health from imported electrolytic manganese metal that con-
tains selenium. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 21, 2003
Mr. WHITFIELD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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 jurisdic-
tion 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 im-
ported electrolytic manganese metal that contains sele-
nium.
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 ‘‘Manganese Metal Safe-
ty Control Act of 2003’’.
SEC. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY STUDY ON 
THE ADDITION OF SELENIUM TO THE PROC-
ESSING OF MANGANESE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Manganese, in various forms, is critical to 
iron and steel production, is a key component in alu-
minum alloys and dry cell batteries, and is an essen-
tial nutritional element for plants, animals, and hu-
mans. 
(2) Consequently, manganese is present in die-
tary supplements, fertilizers, and animal feed, and in 
aluminum cans, building materials, and a wide array 
of other products used in daily life. 
(3) The United States is the largest consumer 
of manganese in the world, consuming over 500,000 
tons annually. 
(4) Though manganese metal can be obtained 
from oxide ores by reduction with carbon, aluminum, 
magnesium, or sodium, the majority is obtained by 
way of electrolysis. The electrolytic manganese man-
ufacturing process requires substantial consumption 
of electricity. 
(5) While the United States was once a signifi-
cant producer of manganese metal, it is now depend-
ent on foreign sources for this important industrial 
material.
(6) To improve the electrical current efficiency, 
some producers incorporate selenium in the produc-
tion of manganese metal. While this gains them cer-
tain economic advantages, it may come at a price to 
the environment and human health. 
(7) Selenium and various selenium compounds 
are listed substances under the Toxic Substances 
Control Act Inventory. Selenium is a persistent bio-
accumulative toxin. 
(8) Selenium is also listed in table 1 of section 
261.24 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, as 
a substance causing a waste that exhibits the char-
acteristic of toxicity, and hence be a hazardous 
waste. 
(b) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall conduct a com-
prehensive study to determine whether electrolytic man-
ganese metal imported into the United States that con-
tains selenium poses any harmful effects to humans or the 
environment. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
$100,000 for fiscal year 2004 to carry out this Act.
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