I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2636 
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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 3, 2015 
Ms. KELLY of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
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. 
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 ‘‘Petroleum Coke Trans-
parency and Public Health Protection Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) In the past several years, United States 
crude oil refineries have grown their coking capacity 
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to accommodate the conversion of heavy crude oils 
into refined petroleum products. 
(2) As coking capacity has grown, the domestic 
production of petroleum coke is expected to grow, 
leading to increases in the storage, transportation, 
and use of the material. 
(3) In Detroit, piles of petroleum coke have 
been stored in the open air on the banks of the De-
troit River. 
(4) Uncovered piles of petroleum coke have also 
been stored in Southeast Chicago near homes and 
local baseball fields. 
(5) State regulators, communities, and industry 
stakeholders would benefit from a complete under-
standing of petroleum coke and the potential impact 
on public health and the environment related to the 
production, transportation, storage, and use of pe-
troleum coke. 
SEC. 3. STUDY OF PETROLEUM COKE PUBLIC HEALTH AND 
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of 
Transportation, and the Secretary of Energy, shall submit 
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to Congress a report containing the results of a study con-
cerning petroleum coke that includes the following: 
(1) An analysis of the public health and envi-
ronmental impacts of the production, transportation, 
storage, and use of petroleum coke. 
(2) An assessment of potential approaches and 
best practices for storing, transporting, and man-
aging petroleum coke. 
(3) A quantitative analysis of current and pro-
jected domestic petroleum coke production and utili-
zation locations. 
(b) BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE.—The study under 
subsection (a) shall be carried out using the best available 
science, including readily available information from ap-
propriate State agencies, nonprofit entities, academic enti-
ties, and industry. 
(c) PUBLICATION OF REPORT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services shall publish on the Inter-
net website of the Department of Health and Human 
Services the report described in subsection (a). 
SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARDS. 
Not later than one year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of 
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Transportation, shall promulgate rules concerning the 
storage and transportation of petroleum coke that ensure 
the protection of public and ecological health based upon 
the findings of the study conducted under section 3. 
Æ 
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