Coal Tar Sealants Reduction Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-1625
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-35]
Introduced: 2013-04-18
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Coal

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Latest action: action_date: 2013-04-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-04-18
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Coal Tar Sealants Reduction Act of 2013 - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to prohibit any person from: (1) manufacturing any coal tar sealant beginning one year after this Act's enactment, (2) processing or distributing in commerce any such sealant beginning one and one-half years after such enactment, or (3) using any such sealant beginning two and one-half years after such enactment. </p> <p>Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate rules to prescribe methods for the transportation, storage, and disposal of such sealants.</p> <p>Defines &quot;coal tar sealant&quot; to mean any product intended for use on a paved surface that contains any substance identified by the Chemical Abstracts Service number 65996-93-2, including ingredients listed as coal tar, refined coal tar, refined tar, or refined coal tar pitch.</p> <BR>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1625 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 18, 2013 Mr. Doggett (for himself, Mr. Ellison , Mr. Quigley , Mr. Keating , Mr. Huffman , and Mr. McDermott ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, and use of coal tar sealants, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Coal Tar Sealants Reduction Act of 2013 . 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a group of organic compounds, some of which are— (A) probable human carcinogens, having been identified as such by the Environmental Protection Agency; (B) toxic to aquatic life; and (C) present in exceptionally high con­cen­tra­tions (relative to other possible sources of environmental contamination) in pavement seal­ants, also known as sealcoats, made from coal tar; (2) coal tar sealants are widely used on playgrounds, parking lot surfaces, airport runways, and driveways; (3) research conducted by the United States Geological Survey indicates that elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in waterways, where they are toxic to aquatic life and enter the food chain, are associated with use of these coal tar sealants; (4) research conducted by the United States Geological Survey indicates that elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on parking lots, where the dust may be tracked into homes and increase health risks, are associated with use of these coal tar sealants; (5) alternative, coal tar-free sealants are available in the marketplace, and nationwide retailers Lowe’s and Home Depot have voluntarily committed to cease carrying coal tar sealants; (6) Austin, TX, was the first municipality to enact a ban on the use of coal tar sealants, which went into effect in 2006, and other local governments have successfully instated similar restrictions; and (7) in 2011, Washington State became the first State to enact such a ban. 3. Coal tar sealants Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act ( 15 U.S.C. 2605 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (g) Coal tar sealants (1) Prohibition No person may— (A) manufacture any coal tar sealant after the date that is one year after the date of enactment of this subsection; (B) process or distribute in commerce any coal tar sealant after the date that is one and one-half years after such date of enactment; or (C) use any coal tar sealant after the date that is two and one-half years after such date of enactment. (2) Rules (A) Authority of Administrator The Administrator may promulgate rules to prescribe methods for the transportation, storage, and disposal of coal tar sealants. (B) Promulgation Any rule under subparagraph (A) shall be promulgated in accordance with paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (c). (3) Relationship to other Federal laws This subsection does not limit the authority of the Administrator, under any other provision of this Act or any other Federal law, to take action respecting any coal tar sealant. (4) Definition In this subsection, the term coal tar sealant means any product intended for use on a paved surface that contains any substance identified by the Chemical Abstracts Service number 65996–93–2, including ingredients listed as coal tar , refined coal tar , refined tar , or refined coal tar pitch . .