I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2516
To amend the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to pro-
vide for the dissemination of source reduction and energy efficiency
technologies.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 24, 1993
Mr. SWETT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology
A BILL
To amend the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act
of 1980 to provide for the dissemination of source reduc-
tion and energy efficiency technologies.
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 Technology Pro-
motion Act of 1993’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) The national policy of the United States de-
clares that pollution should be prevented or reduced
at the source whenever feasible, prior to environ-
mentally sound recycling, treatment, or landfilling.
(2) There are significant opportunities for in-
dustry to reduce or prevent pollution at the source
through cost-effective changes in production, oper-
ation, and raw materials use.
(3) Such changes offer industry substantial sav-
ings in reduced raw material, pollution control, and
liability costs, and help to protect the environment
and reduce risks to worker health and safety.
(4) Federal Government estimates indicate that
businesses can reduce their waste generation 33 per-
cent to 50 percent by implementing source reduction
techniques, and private sector studies suggest that
some industry sectors can reduce their waste by up
to 80 percent through the use of such techniques.
(5) In most cases, source reduction and energy
efficiency techniques do not require the purchase of
new equipment, but merely a better understanding
of how to use equipment currently available.
(6) In fact, one recent study indicated that 25
percent of all source reduction activities require no
capital investment for implementation and, of those
that require capital, 50 percent of the capital ex-
penditures were recouped in savings in, on average,
less than 18 months.
(7) The private sector must take the lead in re-
ducing the production of waste by manufacturing
companies and, in fact, many large companies have
contracted with consultants or performed internal
audits to find methods for reducing pollution in their
own processes.
(8) Source reduction is fundamentally different
from, and more desirable than, waste management
and pollution control and should be promoted by
Federal agencies, particularly the Department of
Commerce in its role in assisting businesses.
(9) The Federal Government can assist small-
and medium-sized companies that often are unaware
of the techniques available for pollution prevention
and the possible savings from employing them, and
such Government assistance will help meet the dual
goals of modernizing manufacturing and improving
the environment.
(10) The Environmental Protection Agency and
the Department of Energy can provide the Manufac-
turing Technology Centers with technical expertise
in this area.
(11) The Environmental Protection Agency has
conducted over 200 source reduction assessments for
manufacturers and the Department of Energy has
conducted over 4,100 energy audits which have
saved companies $419 million and 77 trillion Btu’s
of energy.
(12) Assisting small- and medium-sized compa-
nies to reduce the waste products created during the
manufacturing process will reduce the companies’
costs, and thus improve the competitiveness of such
companies, by—
(A) reducing their costs of disposal;
(B) reducing their costs of complying with
environmental regulations;
(C) reducing their raw material costs;
(D) reducing liability costs associated with
transport and disposal; and
(E) assisting these companies in identify-
ing areas where their production processes are
inefficient.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to incor-
porate environmental concerns into technology programs
established in the National Institute of Standards and
Technology.
SEC. 3. DISSEMINATION OF SOURCE REDUCTION AND EN-
ERGY EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGIES.
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 23. DISSEMINATION OF SOURCE REDUCTION AND EN-
ERGY EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGIES.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each Regional Center for the
Transfer of Manufacturing Technology established in sec-
tion 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) shall conduct or assist in
the conducting of energy efficiency and source reduction
assessments of client companies of the Regional Centers
and the Manufacturing Outreach Centers established
under subsection (c). These assessments shall assist such
client companies in identifying opportunities for energy ef-
ficiency conservation and source reduction through im-
provements in manufacturing processes or the purchase
of new equipment.
‘‘(b) TRAINING AND OTHER ASSISTANCE.—In order
to facilitate these energy efficiency and source reduction
assessments—
‘‘(1) at least one employee of each Regional
Center (who shall be designated by such Regional
Center) shall receive training from the Department
of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency
concerning the conducting of energy efficiency and
source reduction assessments; and
‘‘(2) not later than 12 months after the date of
enactment of this section, the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, in consultation with the
Environmental Protection Agency and the Depart-
ment of Energy, shall make available a software as-
sessment package to the Regional Centers and the
Manufacturing Outreach Centers for the purpose of
assisting client companies in identifying opportuni-
ties for improved energy efficiency and source reduc-
tion.
‘‘(c) MANUFACTURING OUTREACH CENTERS.—(1)
Eligible government and private sector organizations that
are engaged in technology or manufacturing extension ac-
tivities may apply to the Secretary for designation as Man-
ufacturing Outreach Centers, in such form and manner
as the Secretary may prescribe. Eligible organizations in-
clude Federal, State, and local government agencies, ex-
tension programs, universities, and laboratories; small
business development centers; and professional societies,
worker organizations, industrial organizations, nonprofit
organizations, community development organizations,
community colleges, and technical schools and colleges.
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall establish standards for des-
ignation of existing technology or manufacturing extension
programs and for qualification of start-up programs as
Manufacturing Outreach Centers.
‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘source reduction’ has the same meaning as in sec-
tion 6603 of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 13102).’’.
Æ