[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 798 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]
In the Senate of the United States,
December 9 (legislative day, December 8), 2006.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R.
798) entitled ``An Act to provide for a research program for
remediation of closed methamphetamine production laboratories, and for
other purposes.'', do pass with the following
AMENDMENT:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Methamphetamine Remediation Research
Act of 2006''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) methamphetamine use and production is growing rapidly
throughout the United States;
(2) some materials and chemical residues remaining from the
production of methamphetamine pose novel environmental problems
in locations in which methamphetamine laboratories have been
closed;
(3) there has been little standardization of measures for
determining when the site of a former methamphetamine
laboratory has been successfully remediated;
(4)(A) initial cleanup actions are generally limited to
removal of hazardous substances and contaminated materials that
pose an immediate threat to public health or the environment;
and
(B) it is not uncommon for significant levels of
contamination to be found throughout residential structures in
which methamphetamine has been manufactured, partially because
of a lack of knowledge of how to achieve an effective cleanup;
(5)(A) data on methamphetamine laboratory-related
contaminants of concern are very limited;
(B) uniform cleanup standards do not exist; and
(C) procedures for sampling and analysis of contaminants
need to be researched and developed; and
(6) many States are struggling with establishing assessment
and remediation guidelines and programs to address the rapidly
expanding number of methamphetamine laboratories being closed
each year.
SEC. 3. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES.
(a) Establishment of Voluntary Guidelines.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this Act as the
``Administrator''), in consultation with the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, shall establish voluntary guidelines, based
on the best available scientific knowledge, for the remediation of
former methamphetamine laboratories, including guidelines regarding
preliminary site assessment and the remediation of residual
contaminants.
(b) Considerations.--In developing the voluntary guidelines under
subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider, at a minimum--
(1) relevant standards, guidelines, and requirements found
in Federal, State, and local laws (including regulations);
(2) the varying types and locations of former
methamphetamine laboratories; and
(3) the expected cost of carrying out any proposed
guidelines.
(c) States.--
(1) In general.--The voluntary guidelines should be
designed to assist State and local governments in the
development and the implementation of legislation and other
policies to apply state-of-the-art knowledge and research
results to the remediation of former methamphetamine
laboratories.
(2) Adoption.--The Administrator shall work with State and
local governments and other relevant non-Federal agencies and
organizations, including through the conference described in
section 5, to promote and encourage the appropriate adoption of
the voluntary guidelines.
(d) Updating the Guidelines.--The Administrator shall periodically
update the voluntary guidelines as the Administrator, in consultation
with States and other interested parties, determines to be appropriate
to incorporate research findings and other new knowledge.
SEC. 4. RESEARCH PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish a program of
research to support the development and revision of the voluntary
guidelines described in section 3.
(b) Research.--The research shall--
(1) identify methamphetamine laboratory-related chemicals
of concern;
(2) assess the types and levels of exposure to chemicals of
concern identified under paragraph (1), including routine and
accidental exposures, that may present a significant risk of
adverse biological effects;
(3) identify the research efforts necessary to better
address biological effects and to minimize adverse human
exposures;
(4) evaluate the performance of various methamphetamine
laboratory cleanup and remediation techniques; and
(5) support other research priorities identified by the
Administrator, in consultation with States and other interested
parties.
SEC. 5. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CONFERENCE.
(a) Conference.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act and at least every third year thereafter,
the Administrator shall convene a conference of appropriate
State agencies, individuals, and organizations involved in
research and other activities directly relating to the
environmental or biological impacts of former methamphetamine
laboratories.
(2) Forum.--The conference should be a forum for--
(A) the Administrator to provide information on the
guidelines developed under section 3 and on the latest
findings from the research program described in section
4; and
(B) non-Federal participants to provide information
on the problems and needs of States and localities and
their experience with guidelines developed under
section 3.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
each conference, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a
report that summarizes the proceedings of the conference,
including a summary of any recommendations or concerns raised
by the non-Federal participants in that conference and how the
Administrator intends to respond to the recommendations or
concerns.
(2) Public availability.--The Administrator shall make each
report widely available to the general public.
SEC. 6. RESIDUAL EFFECTS STUDY.
(a) Study.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall offer to enter into an arrangement
with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy
of Sciences shall conduct a study of the status and quality of research
on the residual effects of methamphetamine laboratories.
(b) Content.--The study shall identify research gaps and recommend
an agenda for the research program described in section 4, with
particular attention to the need for research on the impacts of
methamphetamine laboratories on--
(1) the residents of buildings in which such laboratories
are, or were, located, with particular emphasis given to
biological impacts on children; and
(2) first responders.
(c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of completion of
the study, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report
describing the manner in which the Administrator will use the results
of the study to carry out the activities described in sections 3 and 4.
SEC. 7. METHAMPHETAMINE DETECTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
The Director of National Institute of Standards and Technology, in
consultation with the Administrator, shall support a research program
to develop--
(1) new methamphetamine detection technologies, with
emphasis on field test kits and site detection; and
(2) appropriate standard reference materials and validation
procedures for methamphetamine detection testing.
SEC. 8. SAVINGS CLAUSE.
Nothing in this Act modifies or otherwise affects the regulatory
authority of the Environmental Protection Agency.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Environmental Protection Agency.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this Act $1,750,000 for
each of fiscal years 2007 and 2008.
(b) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology to carry out this Act $750,000 for each of
fiscal years 2007 and 2008.
Attest:
Secretary.
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 798
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AMENDMENT