Title: MICRO Plastics Act of 2020
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Making Investments in Curbing the Ruinous Output of Plastics Act of 2020 or the MICRO Plastics Act of 2020
This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a pilot program that tests the efficacy and cost effectiveness of tools, technologies, and techniques to (1) remove microplastics from the environment, and (2) prevent the release of microplastics into the environment.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3306 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3306

  To establish a microplastics pilot program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 13, 2020

 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Graham, Ms. Collins, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. 
Coons, and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following bill; which was read 
  twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish a microplastics pilot program, 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 ``Making Investments in Curbing the 
Ruinous Output of Plastics Act of 2020'' or the ``MICRO Plastics Act of 
2020''.

SEC. 2. MICROPLASTICS PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the 
``Administrator'') shall establish a pilot program (referred to in this 
section as the ``pilot program'') to test the efficacy and cost 
effectiveness of tools, technologies, and techniques--
            (1) to remove microplastics from the environment; and
            (2) to prevent the release of microplastics into the 
        environment.
    (b) Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program, the 
Administrator shall include the testing of--
            (1) natural infrastructure;
            (2) green infrastructure (as defined in section 502 of the 
        Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362)); and
            (3) mechanical removal systems (such as pumps) and 
        filtration technologies.
    (c) Eligible Pilot Program Locations.--In carrying out the pilot 
program, the Administrator may carry out projects located in--
            (1) stormwater systems;
            (2) wastewater treatment facilities;
            (3) drinking water systems; and
            (4) ports, harbors, inland waterways, estuaries, and marine 
        environments.
    (d) Outreach.--In determining selection criteria and projects to 
carry out under the pilot program, the Administrator shall conduct 
outreach to--
            (1) the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee 
        established under section 5(a) of the Marine Debris Act (33 
        U.S.C. 1954(a)); and
            (2) stakeholders and experts in the applicable field, as 
        determined by the Administrator.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report 
describing the outreach conducted under subsection (d).
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
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