(3) the current status of research and training 
programs to promote the environmental design of 
electronic devices to reduce electronic waste. 
(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 waste, and the report 
shall recommend areas where additional research and de-
velopment resources are needed to reduce the impact of 
electronic waste on the environment. 
SEC. 
5. 
ENGINEERING 
CURRICULUM 
DEVELOPMENT 
GRANTS. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Administrator, in con-
sultation with the National Science Foundation, shall 
award grants to institutions of higher education 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. 
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(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) MERIT REVIEW; COMPETITION.—Grants shall be 
awarded under this section on a merit-reviewed, competi-
tive basis. 
(d) 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 life cycles related to electronic devices and 
the reduction of electronic waste. 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 
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(4) developing curricula for short courses and 
continuing education for professionals in the envi-
ronmental design of electronic devices to reduce elec-
tronic waste. 
(e) APPLICATION.—An institution of higher edu-
cation seeking a grant under this section shall submit an 
application to the Administrator at such time, in such 
manner, and with such information and assurances as the 
Administrator may require. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this section: 
(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2010. 
(2) $5,150,000 for fiscal year 2011. 
(3) $5,304,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
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-
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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 2010. 
(2) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 
(3) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(2) CONSORTIUM.—The term ‘‘consortium’’ 
means a grant applicant or recipient under section 
3(a) that includes— 
(A) at least one institution of higher edu-
cation, nonprofit research institution, or govern-
ment laboratory; and 
(B) at least one for-profit entity, including 
a manufacturer, designer, refurbisher, or recy-
cler of electronic devices or the components of 
such devices. 
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(3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology. 
(4) ELECTRONIC WASTE.—The term ‘‘electronic 
waste’’ means obsolete, broken, stored, or discarded 
electronic devices, including computers, computer 
monitors, televisions, laptops, printers, cellular 
phones, copiers, fax machines, stereos, video gaming 
systems, and the components of such devices. 
(5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
Æ 
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