Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act
Bill: H.R.8033 | Sponsor: Rep. Garamendi, John (D-CA)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act
This bill requires states to implement a corrosion management system that utilizes industry-recognized standards and corrosion mitigation and prevention methods for bridge construction, repair, and maintenance projects that receive federal assistance. It also requires certain aspects of the bridge projects to be carried out by certified contractors that provide appropriate training for their employees.

To require that certain aspects of bridge projects be carried out by 
             certified contractors, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Bridge Corrosion Prevention and 
Repair Act''.

SEC. 2. CORROSION PREVENTION FOR BRIDGES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Applicable bridge projects.--The term ``applicable 
        bridge projects'' means a project for construction, 
        replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, or protection, other 
        than de minimis work, as determined by the applicable State 
        department of transportation, on a bridge project that receives 
        financial assistance under title 23, United States Code.
            (2) Certified contractor.--The term ``certified 
        contractor'' means a contracting or subcontracting firm that 
        has been certified by an industry-wide recognized third-party 
        organization that evaluates the capability of the contractor or 
        subcontractor to properly perform 1 or more specified aspects 
        of applicable bridge projects described in subsection (b)(2).
            (3) Qualified training program.--The term ``qualified 
        training program'' means a training program in corrosion 
        control, mitigation, and prevention that is either--
                    (A) offered or accredited by an organization that 
                sets industry corrosion standards; or
                    (B) an industrial coatings applicator training 
                program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (29 
                U.S.C. 50 et seq.; commonly known as the ``National 
                Apprenticeship Act''), that meets the standards of 
                subpart A of part 29 and part 30 of title 29, Code of 
                Federal Regulations.
    (b) Applicable Bridge Projects.--
            (1) Quality control.--A certified contractor shall carry 
        out aspects of an applicable bridge project described in 
        paragraph (2).
            (2) Aspects of applicable bridge projects.--Aspects of an 
        applicable bridge project referred to in paragraph (1) shall 
        include--
                    (A) surface preparation or coating application on 
                steel or rebar of an applicable bridge project;
                    (B) removal of a lead-based or other hazardous 
                coating from steel of an existing applicable bridge 
                project; and
                    (C) shop painting of structural steel or rebar 
                fabricated for installation on an applicable bridge 
                project.
            (3) Corrosion management system.--In carrying out an 
        applicable bridge project, a State department of transportation 
        shall--
                    (A) implement a corrosion management system that 
                utilizes industry-recognized standards and corrosion 
                mitigation and prevention methods to address--
                            (i) surface preparation;
                            (ii) protective coatings;
                            (iii) materials selection;
                            (iv) cathodic protection;
                            (v) corrosion engineering;
                            (vi) personnel training; and
                            (vii) best practices in environmental 
                        protection to prevent environmental degradation 
                        and uphold public health; and
                    (B) require certified contractors, for the purpose 
                of carrying out aspects of applicable bridge projects 
                described in paragraph (2), to employ a substantial 
                number of individuals that are trained and certified by 
                a qualified training program as meeting the ANSI/NACE 
                Number 13/SSPC-ACS-1 standard or future versions of 
                this standard.
            (4) Certification.--The applicable State department of 
        transportation shall only accept bids for projects that include 
        aspects of applicable bridge projects described in paragraph 
        (2) from a certified contractor that presents written proof 
        that the certification of such contractor meets the relevant 
        SSPC-QP standards or future versions of these standards.
    (c) Training Program.--As a condition of entering into a contract 
for an applicable bridge project, each certified contractor shall 
provide training for each individual who is not a certified coating 
applicator but that the certified contractor employs to carry out 
aspects of applicable bridge projects as described in subsection 
(b)(2).
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