[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5658 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5658
To facilitate the development of markets for alternative fuels and
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel through research, development, and
demonstration and data collection.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 21, 2006
Mr. Gordon introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To facilitate the development of markets for alternative fuels and
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel through research, development, and
demonstration and data collection.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) in order to lessen United States dependence on foreign
sources of petroleum, and decrease demand for petroleum in the
transportation sector, the Nation must diversify its fuel
supply to include domestically produced alternative biobased
fuels;
(2) introduction of alternative biobased fuels presents a
unique set of problems that may render the fuels incompatible
with the current fuel transportation and delivery
infrastructure, placing the burden of costly refurbishment and
construction on fuel distributors and retailers;
(3) chemical additives to the fuels may mitigate the
negative impacts of biobased fuels on existing infrastructure
and preclude costly retrofitting or installation of new
biobased fuel compatible infrastructure and transportation
systems;
(4) in order to mitigate air pollution and comply with
Federal mandates, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel is being
introduced into the marketplace in 2006;
(5) fuel labeled Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel can accumulate
more than the statutory limit of 15 parts per million of sulfur
when transported through multiple pipelines, tanks, and trucks
to the final point of sale; and
(6) fuel distributors and retailers may inadvertently take
delivery of fuel labeled Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel with more than
15 parts per million of sulfur without a practical means of
verifying sulfur content.
SEC. 2. ALTERNATIVE FUEL AND ULSD INFRASTRUCTURE AND ADDITIVES RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT.
The Secretary of Energy (in this Act referred to as the
``Secretary'') , in consultation with the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, shall carry out a program of research,
development, demonstration, and commercial application of materials to
be added to alternative biobased fuels and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel
fuels to make them more compatible with existing infrastructure used to
store and deliver petroleum-based fuels to the point of final sale. The
program shall address--
(1) materials to prevent or mitigate--
(A) corrosion of metal, plastic, rubber, cork,
fiberglass, glues, or any other material used in pipes
and storage tanks;
(B) dissolving of storage tank sediments;
(C) clogging of filters;
(D) contamination from water or other adulterants
or pollutants;
(E) poor flow properties related to low
temperatures;
(F) oxidative and thermal instability in long-term
storage and use;
(G) increased volatile emissions;
(H) microbial contamination;
(I) problems associated with electrical
conductivity; and
(J) increased nitrogen oxide emissions;
(2) alternatives to conventional methods for refurbishment
and cleaning of gasoline and diesel tanks, including tank
lining applications; and
(3) other problems as identified by the Secretary in
consultation with the National Institute of Standards and
Technology.
SEC. 3. SULFUR TESTING FOR DIESEL FUELS.
(a) Program.--The Secretary, in consultation with the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, shall carry out a research,
development, and demonstration program on portable, low-cost, and
accurate methods and technologies for testing of sulfur content in
fuel, including Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel and Low Sulfur Diesel.
(b) Schedule of Demonstrations.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall begin demonstrations
of technologies under subsection (a).
SEC. 4. STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIALS AND DATA BASE DEVELOPMENT.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall develop a
physical properties data base and standard reference materials for
alternative fuels. Such data base and standard reference materials
shall be maintained and updated as appropriate as additional
alternative fuels become available.
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