lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Environment — Waste Disposal
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-07-16 00:00:00

Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015

This bill amends the nonhazardous waste provisions of subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (commonly known as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) to establish a federal permit program for coal combustion residuals (coal ash) that states may elect to administer. The program outlines the criteria that a state must use if it chooses to adopt and enforce a permit program regulating the management and disposal of coal ash generated by electric utilities and independent power producers. The program applies to the disposal of coal ash into: (1) landfills or surface impoundments, (2) sand or gravel pits, (3) quarries, or (4) lateral expansions of the previously mentioned structures.

A state that chooses to adopt a coal ash program is given sole enforcement authority. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must implement a program for a state if: (1) a state's program fails to meet those criteria, or (2) a state does not implement a program. A coal ash permit program implemented by the EPA may not apply to the utilization, placement, and storage of coal ash at surface or underground coal mining and reclamation operations.

The bill revises the EPA rule governing the disposal of coal ash, entitled "Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System; Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities." The rule may be implemented only through the permit program established by the bill. When the requirements of the bill and the rule conflict, the requirements of the bill must be followed.

Under the program, the implementing agency must use baseline criteria, including criteria with respect to coal ash for:

 structures' design, location, and structural integrity; groundwater and surface water protections; structures closing; and air quality with respect to fugitive dust. The agency implementing the permit program must ensure that certain information concerning the program is publicly available.
Topic: Environment — Waste Disposal
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-08-05 00:00:00

Trash Reduction and Sensible Handling Act of 2015 or the TRASH Act

This bill amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize state solid waste management plans to restrict the importation of out-of-state waste at the state and local level by requiring out-of-state waste to be from states with waste handling and reduction standards that are equivalent or higher than the standards of the state receiving the waste.

Those plans may impose a community benefit fee on out-of-state waste, which may be higher than the fees for in-state waste. States may provide those fees to affected communities and may differentiate community benefit fees based on whether the imported waste was disposed of at a landfill, an incinerator, a resource recovery facility, a waste-to-energy facility, or other waste handling facility.
Topic: Environment — Waste Disposal
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-12-03 00:00:00

Clean Water Compliance and Affordability Act

 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out a pilot program to facilitate the efforts of eligible municipalities to develop and implement integrated plans to meet their wastewater and stormwater obligations under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) in a cost-effective and flexible manner and consistent with the Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Approach Framework issued by the EPA in May 2012. The pilot program must facilitate the efforts of at least 15 municipalities.

A municipality is eligible to participate in the pilot program if it is: (1) a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holder or designee; or (2) a party to an administrative order, administrative consent agreement, or judicial consent decree to comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act.

The EPA must give priority to municipalities that: (1) are affected by affordability constraints in planning and implementing control measures addressing wet weather discharges from wastewater and stormwater facilities; and (2) have a history of knowledgeable, detailed, and comprehensive efforts to develop integrated and adaptive clean water management practices. The EPA may give priority to municipalities seeking to develop and implement an integrated plan that includes approaches that adapt to changed or future uncertain circumstances.

With the mutual agreement of participating municipalities, the EPA may: (1) extend the allowable NPDES permit term by up to 25 years, (2) modify the implementation terms of a consent decree, and (3) provide additional regulatory flexibility in approving and implementing an integrated plan that includes adaptive approaches.
Topic: Environment — Waste Disposal
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2016-01-19 00:00:00

Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2016

This bill amends subtitle D (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act to establish a permit program for coal combustion residuals (coal ash) that states may elect to administer. The program outlines the criteria that a state must use if it chooses to adopt and enforce a permit program regulating the management and disposal of coal ash generated by electric utilities and independent power producers. The program applies to the disposal of coal ash into landfills or surface impoundments, sand or gravel pits, quarries, or lateral expansions of the structures. The structural criteria concern: (1) design, location, and integrity; (2) financial assurance; (3) groundwater and surface water protections; (4) closure procedures; and (5) air quality with respect to fugitive dust.

A state that chooses to adopt a coal ash program is given sole enforcement authority. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must implement a program for a state if: (1) a state's program fails to meet those criteria, or (2) a state does not implement a program.

The bill revises implementation of the EPA rule governing the disposal of coal ash, entitled "Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System; Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities." The rule may be implemented only through the permit program established by this bill.

The agency implementing the permit program must ensure that certain information concerning the program is publicly available.
Topic: Environment — Waste Disposal
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2016-04-07 00:00:00

Clean Water Affordability Act of 2016

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to revise and reauthorize through FY2021 a grant program for intercepting, transporting, controlling, or treating combined sewer overflows or sanitary sewer overflows. The bill: (1) expands the grant program to include support for measures that manage, reduce, treat, or recapture stormwater or subsurface drainage water; (2) allows local or regional authorities to receive grant funds; and (3) increases the federal cost-sharing requirement by requiring the federal share of the costs of a project carried out using grant funds to be at least 75% of the total costs of the project.

The bill also revises the Clean Water Act by establishing requirements concerning managing water pollution during periods of heavy precipitation, including by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a green infrastructure portfolio standard, which contains voluntary goals for increasing the percentage of annual water managed by eligible entities that use green infrastructure. (Green infrastructure is an approach used to manage stormwater by capturing stormwater in vegetation or porous surfaces.)

The EPA must update the guidance entitled "Combined Sewer Overflows - Guidance for Financial Capability Assessment and Schedule Development" to ensure that the evaluations of community financial capability and schedule development meet specified criteria.
Topic: Environment — Waste Disposal
Subject: Agriculture and food
Date: 2016-06-29 00:00:00

Food Recovery Act of 2016 

This bill provides funding and establishes requirements to reduce food waste and standardize date labeling on food.

The bill expands and establishes grant and loan programs to:

 raise awareness about wasted food and food recovery efforts to reduce the quantity of wasted food, improve cooperation between agricultural producers and emergency feeding organizations, assist schools in using food from farms that would otherwise go to waste and providing farms with compostable materials, and install facilities that include composting or anaerobic digesters that use food or crop waste to produce energy. The bill provides funds for: (1) state storage and distribution costs under the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and (2) media campaigns to decrease food waste.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish an Office of Food Recovery to coordinate programs to measure and reduce food waste.

The bill specifies that composting is eligible for support under USDA's conservation programs.

Companies that receive federal food service contracts must donate surplus food to nonprofit organizations that assist food-insecure people.

Food Date Labeling Act of 2016 

Producers, manufacturers, distributors, or retailers that place a date label on food packaging of a product must use the phrases "best if used by" to indicate food quality and the phrase "expires on" to warn of food that may be unsafe to eat after a specified date.

Labelers may include a quality date on packaging, but must include a safety date on ready-to-eat products.

No one may prohibit the sale, donation, or use of a product after the quality date for the product has passed.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Energy
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Energy Efficient Buildings Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) establish a pilot program to award grants to businesses and organizations for new construction or major renovations of energy efficient buildings that will result in innovative energy efficiency technologies, especially those sponsored by the Department of Energy; and (2) give due consideration to proposals for buildings that are likely to serve low and moderate income populations. Defines "energy efficient building" as one that after construction or renovation: (1) uses heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems that perform at no less than Energy Star standards; or (2) if Energy Star standards are not applicable, uses Federal Energy Management Program recommended heating, ventilating, and air conditioning products.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Energy
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Fuel Savings, Smarter Travel, and Efficient Roadways Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to report to Congress on the potential fuel savings from intelligent transportation systems that help businesses and consumers to plan their travel and avoid delays.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2007-01-17 00:00:00

Buildings for the 21st Century Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the allowable amount of the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial building costs; and (2) extend such deduction through 2013.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Energy
Date: 2007-01-24 00:00:00

Amends federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation by regulation to prescribe (corporate) average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for automobiles manufactured after 2009 that ensure that the CAFE achieved by automobiles manufactured after 2016 is at least 33 miles per gallon, and meets other specified criteria. Authorizes the Secretary to establish separate standards for different classes of automobiles according to size. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a CAFE credit trading program to allow a manufacturer that exceeds fuel economy standards to sell credits to another manufacturer.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2007-02-16 00:00:00

Amends the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988 to authorize appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.Requires the Secretary of Energy, in reviewing research and development activities for possible inclusion in the research plan to expand the steel research and development initiative, to consider among steel project priorities the development of technologies which reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Revises the requirement for consideration of the development of advanced coatings for sheet steels to specify sheet and bar steels.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Energy
Date: 2007-02-27 00:00:00

Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to instruct the Secretary of Energy to make loan guarantee commitments to domestic motor vehicle manufacturers and suppliers for advanced conservation and fuel efficiency technology projects for gasoline and diesel vehicles, flexible fuel vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles that reduce dependence on oil and greenhouse gas emissions. Limits the aggregate amount of guarantees for such production.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Housing and community development
Date: 2007-03-01 00:00:00

High Performance Buildings Act of 2007 - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 to require that state and local housing strategies include a description of the jurisdiction's strategies to encourage sustainable development for affordable housing. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to nonprofit organizations to use for specified purposes to improve or carry out energy efficiency, resource conservation and reuse, and effective use of existing infrastructure in affordable housing and economic development activities in low-income communities. Establishes within the National Science Foundation a Sustainable Building Institute to undertake or support through providing grants, loans, or other assistance: (1) research regarding the relationships among indoor environmental quality, human health, and human productivity; and (2) research, development, and commercial application of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for buildings.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2007-03-06 00:00:00

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an alternative motor vehicle tax credit for new qualified plug-in hybrid motor vehicles. Defines such a vehicle as any new qualified hybrid motor vehicle that: (1) is a passenger automobile or light truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 8,500 pounds; (2) meets or exceeds the Bin 5 Tier II emission standard established by the Environmental Protection Agency; (3) draws propulsion energy from a traction battery of not less than 4 kWh; and (4) is equipped with a means of recharging its energy storage system from an external source of electricity.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Energy
Date: 2007-03-13 00:00:00

Fuel Economy Reform Act - Amends federal transportation law to: (1) revise the definition of automobile to require including all automobiles up to 10,000 pounds (currently, not all automobiles up to 10,000 pounds are required to be included in the definition); and (2) continue applying the current minimum corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for non-passenger and passenger automobiles to automobiles manufactured through model year 2011, but, for passenger automobiles, adds an increase of 4% per year in such standard for model years 2009 through 2011. Requires an average fuel economy standard of 27.5 miles per gallon for automobiles manufactured by a manufacturer for model year 2012, and an average fuel economy standard of 35 miles per gallon for automobiles manufactured by a manufacturer for model year 2018, with a minimum increase of 4% in the average fuel economy from the level for the prior model year for model year 2013 and beyond, with specified exceptions from the 4% increase permitted. Prohibits this Act from being construed to limit, supercede, or expand the Secretary of Transportation's authority under federal transportation law to prescribe motor vehicle safety standards to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries due to such accidents.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Energy
Date: 2007-03-15 00:00:00

Instructs the Secretary of Energy to issue regulations prohibiting the sale of light bulbs that emit less than: (1) 60 lumens per watt, effective January 1, 2012; (2) 90 lumens per watt, effective January 1, 2016; and (3) 120 lumens per watt, effective January 1, 2020. Directs the Secretary to transmit to Congress a plan for encouraging and providing incentives for the use of more efficient light bulbs by consumers and businesses. Authorizes the Secretary to provide exemptions to the prohibition only in cases where it is found, after a hearing and opportunity for public comment, that it is not technically feasible to serve a specialized lighting application, such as a military, medical, or public safety application.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2007-03-20 00:00:00

Clean and Green Renewable Energy Tax Credit Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2030 the tax credits for investment in solar energy and qualified fuel cell property; (2) modify the percentage rate for the energy tax credit; (3) extend through 2016 the tax credit for residential energy efficient property expenditures; (4) allow accelerated depreciation of solar energy and fuel cell property; (5) extend through 2013 the tax credit for electricity produced from certain renewable resources; (6) allow an energy tax credit and a residential energy efficient property tax credit for certain equipment which uses wind to generate energy; and (7) extend through 2009 the tax credit for nonbusiness energy property expenditures.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Energy
Date: 2007-03-27 00:00:00

Bulb Replacement in Government With High-Efficiency Technology Energy Savings Act of 2007 or the BRIGHT Energy Savings Act of 2007 - Requires each: (1) public building constructed or significantly altered by the Administrator of General Services to be equipped, to the maximum extent feasible (as specified under this Act), with lighting fixtures and bulbs that are energy efficient (as specified under this Act); and (2) lighting fixture or bulb that is replaced in the normal course of maintenance of public buildings to be replaced with an energy efficient fixture or bulb.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Energy
Date: 2007-03-29 00:00:00

Federal Stimulus of Commercial Application of Energy Technology Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish the Innovative Energy Technologies Fund for Federal Buildings and to administer the Fund to enable federal agencies to demonstrate innovative energy technologies for retrofit or new construction of federal buildings and facilities. Allows federal agencies to apply to the Secretary for a loan for financing the demonstration of innovative energy technology projects and requires such agencies to repay the Fund from savings in energy other costs attributable to actions taken as a result of the project undertaken with the loan. Permits a federal agency, in addition to financing an innovative energy technology project, to use the loan amount to pay the costs of administration and the development of proposals for subsequent projects to further develop the technology and to acquire and operate equipment necessary to monitor and verify associated energy savings. Requires a federal agency to repay to the Fund the principal amount of the loan and fees determined by the Secretary to cover costs of administering the loan. Requires a federal agency to submit specified annual reports to the Secretary with respect to the implementation of innovative energy technology projects for which loans are provided under this Act.Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the operations of the Fund and the total expenditures from the Fund to each federal agency and examples of project successes and failures in meeting energy savings projections.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Energy
Date: 2007-04-18 00:00:00

Health Care for Hybrids Act - Requires the Secretaries of Energy, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and the Treasury to establish a task force to create a program to reimburse certain domestic automobile manufacturers for a portion (up to 10%) of the annual health care coverage costs for their retired employees. Requires such manufacturers to invest at least 50% of their health care cost savings in petroleum fuel reduction technologies, including alternative or flexible fuel vehicles and hybrids, and in the retraining of workers and retooling of manufacturing plants. Terminates such program on December 31, 2017. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) define economic substance for purposes of evaluating tax shelter transactions; (2) impose penalties for understatements of tax liability resulting from transactions lacking in economic substance; and (3) deny a tax deduction for interest assessed on underpayments of tax resulting from transactions lacking in economic substance.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2007-04-23 00:00:00

Industrial Cogeneration Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an energy tax credit for investment in combined heat and power system property placed in service before January 1, 2011.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Energy
Date: 2007-05-01 00:00:00

Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to direct the Secretary of Energy to publish a final rule not later than December 31, 2010, determining whether to amend the standards in effect for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers manufactured on or after January 1, 2014. Prescribes specified energy and water factors for: (1) residential clothes washers manufactured on or after January 1, 2011; and (2) dishwashers manufactured on or after January 1, 2010. Requires dehumidifiers manufactured on or after October 1, 2012, to meet or exceed specified energy factor values. Moves up from January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2009, the effective date for new qualifying levels for clothes washers the Secretary is required to establish.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Energy
Date: 2007-05-02 00:00:00

Purchasing Low-Emission Vehicles for Use in Government (PLUG) Act - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to instruct the Secretary of Energy to ensure that the federal government acquires not fewer than 50,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles manufactured in the United States by U.S. entities. Defines a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle as a light duty vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine or heat engine using: (1) a combustible fuel; (2) an on-board, rechargeable storage device; and (3) a device that collects electricity from an off-board source.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2007-05-03 00:00:00

Super-Efficient Appliance Incentives and Market Transformation Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the applicable amount of the tax credit for energy efficient appliances (i.e., dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators, and dehumidifiers which restrict water and energy consumption) produced after 2007.
Topic: Energy — Conservation
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2007-05-14 00:00:00

Energy Conservation through "Smart Meters" Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to assign a five-year recovery period for depreciation of qualified energy management devices placed in service by a supplier of electric energy or a provider of electric energy services. Defines an "energy management device" as any time-based meter and related communication equipment used to measure and record electricity usage data on a time-differentiated basis in at least 24 separate time segments per day.