42 U.S.C. § 6982 : US Code - Section 6982: Special studies; plans for research, development, and demonstrations

Search 42 U.S.C. § 6982 : US Code - Section 6982: Special studies; plans for research, development, and demonstrations

(a) Glass and plastic
The Administrator shall undertake a study and publish a report on
resource recovery from glass and plastic waste, including a
scientific, technological, and economic investigation of potential
solutions to implement such recovery.
(b) Composition of waste stream
The Administrator shall undertake a systematic study of the
composition of the solid waste stream and of anticipated future
changes in the composition of such stream and shall publish a
report containing the results of such study and quantitatively
evaluating the potential utility of such components.
(c) Priorities study
For purposes of determining priorities for research on recovery
of materials and energy from solid waste and developing materials
and energy recovery research, development, and demonstration
strategies, the Administrator shall review, and make a study of,
the various existing and promising techniques of energy recovery
from solid waste (including, but not limited to, waterwall furnace
incinerators, dry shredded fuel systems, pyrolysis, densified
refuse-derived fuel systems, anerobic digestion, and fuel and
feedstock preparation systems). In carrying out such study the
Administrator shall investigate with respect to each such technique
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(1) the degree of public need for the potential results of such
research, development, or demonstration,
(2) the potential for research, development, and demonstration
without Federal action, including the degree of restraint on such
potential posed by the risks involved, and
(3) the magnitude of effort and period of time necessary to
develop the technology to the point where Federal assistance can
be ended.
(d) Small-scale and low technology study
The Administrator shall undertake a comprehensive study and
analysis of, and publish a report on, systems of small-scale and
low technology solid waste management, including household resource
recovery and resource recovery systems which have special
application to multiple dwelling units and high density housing and
office complexes. Such study and analysis shall include an
investigation of the degree to which such systems could contribute
to energy conservation.
(e) Front-end source separation
The Administrator shall undertake research and studies concerning
the compatibility of front-end source separation systems with high
technology resource recovery systems and shall publish a report
containing the results of such research and studies.
(f) Mining waste
The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of the
Interior, shall conduct a detailed and comprehensive study on the
adverse effects of solid wastes from active and abandoned surface
and underground mines on the environment, including, but not
limited to, the effects of such wastes on humans, water, air,
health, welfare, and natural resources, and on the adequacy of
means and measures currently employed by the mining industry,
Government agencies, and others to dispose of and utilize such
solid wastes and to prevent or substantially mitigate such adverse
effects. Such study shall include an analysis of -
(1) the sources and volume of discarded material generated per
year from mining;
(2) present disposal practices;
(3) potential dangers to human health and the environment from
surface runoff of leachate and air pollution by dust;
(4) alternatives to current disposal methods;
(5) the cost of those alternatives in terms of the impact on
mine product costs; and
(6) potential for use of discarded material as a secondary
source of the mine product.
In furtherance of this study, the Administrator shall, as he deems
appropriate, review studies and other actions of other Federal
agencies concerning such wastes with a view toward avoiding
duplication of effort and the need to expedite such study. Not
later than thirty-six months after October 21, 1980, the
Administrator shall publish a report of such study and shall
include appropriate findings and recommendations for Federal and
non-Federal actions concerning such effects. Such report shall be
submitted to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the
United States Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of
the United States House of Representatives.
(g) Sludge
The Administrator shall undertake a comprehensive study and
publish a report on sludge. Such study shall include an analysis of
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(1) what types of solid waste (including but not limited to
sewage and pollution treatment residues and other residues from
industrial operations such as extraction of oil from shale,
liquefaction and gasification of coal and coal slurry pipeline
operations) shall be classified as sludge;
(2) the effects of air and water pollution legislation on the
creation of large volumes of sludge;
(3) the amounts of sludge originating in each State and in each
industry producing sludge;
(4) methods of disposal of such sludge, including the cost,
efficiency, and effectiveness of such methods;
(5) alternative methods for the use of sludge, including
agricultural applications of sludge and energy recovery from
sludge; and
(6) methods to reclaim areas which have been used for the
disposal of sludge or which have been damaged by sludge.
(h) Tires
The Administrator shall undertake a study and publish a report
respecting discarded motor vehicle tires which shall include an
analysis of the problems involved in the collection, recovery of
resources including energy, and use of such tires.
(i) Resource recovery facilities
The Administrator shall conduct research and report on the
economics of, and impediments, to the effective functioning of
resource recovery facilities.
(j) Resource Conservation Committee
(1) The Administrator shall serve as Chairman of a Committee
composed of himself, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of
Labor, the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the
Secretary of Treasury, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary
of Energy, the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, and a
representative of the Office of Management and Budget, which shall
conduct a full and complete investigation and study of all aspects
of the economic, social, and environmental consequences of resource
conservation with respect to -
(A) the appropriateness of recommended incentives and
disincentives to foster resource conservation;
(B) the effect of existing public policies (including subsidies
and economic incentives and disincentives, percentage depletion
allowances, capital gains treatment and other tax incentives and
disincentives) upon resource conservation, and the likely effect
of the modification or elimination of such incentives and
disincentives upon resource conservation;
(C) the appropriateness and feasibility of restricting the
manufacture or use of categories of consumer products as a
resource conservation strategy;
(D) the appropriateness and feasibility of employing as a
resource conservation strategy the imposition of solid waste
management charges on consumer products, which charges would
reflect the costs of solid waste management services, litter
pickup, the value of recoverable components of such product,
final disposal, and any social value associated with the
nonrecycling or uncontrolled disposal of such product; and
(E) the need for further research, development, and
demonstration in the area of resource conservation.
(2) The study required in paragraph (1)(D) may include pilot
scale projects, and shall consider and evaluate alternative
strategies with respect to -
(A) the product categories on which such charges would be
imposed;
(B) the appropriate state in the production of such consumer
product at which to levy such charge;
(C) appropriate criteria for establishing such charges for each
consumer product category;
(D) methods for the adjustment of such charges to reflect
actions such as recycling which would reduce the overall
quantities of solid waste requiring disposal; and
(E) procedures for amending, modifying, or revising such
charges to reflect changing conditions.
(3) The design for the study required in paragraph (1) of this
subsection shall include timetables for the completion of the
study. A preliminary report putting forth the study design shall be
sent to the President and the Congress within six months following
October 21, 1976, and followup reports shall be sent six months
thereafter. Each recommendation resulting from the study shall
include at least two alternatives to the proposed recommendation.
(4) The results of such investigation and study, including
recommendations, shall be reported to the President and the
Congress not later than two years after October 21, 1976.
(5) There are authorized to be appropriated not to exceed
$2,000,000 to carry out this subsection.
(k) Airport landfills
The Administrator shall undertake a comprehensive study and
analysis of and publish a report on systems to alleviate the
hazards to aviation from birds congregating and feeding on
landfills in the vicinity of airports.
(l) Completion of research and studies
The Administrator shall complete the research and studies, and
submit the reports, required under subsections (b), (c), (d), (e),
(f), (g), and (k) of this section not later than October 1, 1978.
The Administrator shall complete the research and studies, and
submit the reports, required under subsections (a), (h), and (i) of
this section not later than October 1, 1979. Upon completion, each
study specified in subsections (a) through (k) of this section, the
Administrator shall prepare a plan for research, development, and
demonstration respecting the findings of the study and shall submit
any legislative recommendations resulting from such study to
appropriate committees of Congress.
(m) Drilling fluids, produced waters, and other wastes associated
with the exploration, development, or production of crude oil or
natural gas or geothermal energy
(1) The Administrator shall conduct a detailed and comprehensive
study and submit a report on the adverse effects, if any, of
drilling fluids, produced waters, and other wastes associated with
the exploration, development, or production of crude oil or natural
gas or geothermal energy on human health and the environment,
including, but not limited to, the effects of such wastes on
humans, water, air, health, welfare, and natural resources and on
the adequacy of means and measures currently employed by the oil
and gas and geothermal drilling and production industry, Government
agencies, and others to dispose of and utilize such wastes and to
prevent or substantially mitigate such adverse effects. Such study
shall include an analysis of -
(A) the sources and volume of discarded material generated per
year from such wastes;
(B) present disposal practices;
(C) potential danger to human health and the environment from
the surface runoff or leachate;
(D) documented cases which prove or have caused danger to human
health and the environment from surface runoff or leachate;
(E) alternatives to current disposal methods;
(F) the cost of such alternatives; and
(G) the impact of those alternatives on the exploration for,
and development and production of, crude oil and natural gas or
geothermal energy.
In furtherance of this study, the Administrator shall, as he deems
appropriate, review studies and other actions of other Federal
agencies concerning such wastes with a view toward avoiding
duplication of effort and the need to expedite such study. The
Administrator shall publish a report of such study and shall
include appropriate findings and recommendations for Federal and
non-Federal actions concerning such effects.
(2) The Administrator shall complete the research and study and
submit the report required under paragraph (1) not later than
twenty-four months from October 21, 1980. Upon completion of the
study, the Administrator shall prepare a summary of the findings of
the study, a plan for research, development, and demonstration
respecting the findings of the study, and shall submit the findings
and the study, along with any recommendations resulting from such
study, to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the
United States Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of
the United States House of Representatives.
(3) There are authorized to be appropriated not to exceed
$1,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this subsection.
(n) Materials generated from the combustion of coal and other
fossil fuels
The Administrator shall conduct a detailed and comprehensive
study and submit a report on the adverse effects on human health
and the environment, if any, of the disposal and utilization of fly
ash waste, bottom ash waste, slag waste, flue gas emission control
waste, and other byproduct materials generated primarily from the
combustion of coal or other fossil fuels. Such study shall include
an analysis of -
(1) the source and volumes of such material generated per year;
(2) present disposal and utilization practices;
(3) potential danger, if any, to human health and the
environment from the disposal and reuse of such materials;
(4) documented cases in which danger to human health or the
environment from surface runoff or leachate has been proved;
(5) alternatives to current disposal methods;
(6) the costs of such alternatives;
(7) the impact of those alternatives on the use of coal and
other natural resources; and
(8) the current and potential utilization of such materials.
In furtherance of this study, the Administrator shall, as he deems
appropriate, review studies and other actions of other Federal and
State agencies concerning such material and invite participation by
other concerned parties, including industry and other Federal and
State agencies, with a view toward avoiding duplication of effort.
The Administrator shall publish a report on such study, which shall
include appropriate findings, not later than twenty-four months
after October 21, 1980. Such study and findings shall be submitted
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the United
States Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
United States House of Representatives.
(o) Cement kiln dust waste
The Administrator shall conduct a detailed and comprehensive
study of the adverse effects on human health and the environment,
if any, of the disposal of cement kiln dust waste. Such study shall
include an analysis of -
(1) the source and volumes of such materials generated per
year;
(2) present disposal practices;
(3) potential danger, if any, to human health and the
environment from the disposal of such materials;
(4) documented cases in which danger to human health or the
environment has been proved;
(5) alternatives to current disposal methods;
(6) the costs of such alternatives;
(7) the impact of those alternatives on the use of natural
resources; and
(8) the current and potential utilization of such materials.
In furtherance of this study, the Administrator shall, as he deems
appropriate, review studies and other actions of other Federal and
State agencies concerning such waste or materials and invite
participation by other concerned parties, including industry and
other Federal and State agencies, with a view toward avoiding
duplication of effort. The Administrator shall publish a report of
such study, which shall include appropriate findings, not later
than thirty-six months after October 21, 1980. Such report shall be
submitted to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the
United States Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of
the United States House of Representatives.
(p) Materials generated from extraction, beneficiation, and
processing of ores and minerals, including phosphate rock and
overburden from uranium mining
The Administrator shall conduct a detailed and comprehensive
study on the adverse effects on human health and the environment,
if any, of the disposal and utilization of solid waste from the
extraction, beneficiation, and processing of ores and minerals,
including phosphate rock and overburden from uranium mining. Such
study shall be conducted in conjunction with the study of mining
wastes required by subsection (f) of this section and shall include
an analysis of -
(1) the source and volumes of such materials generated per
year;
(2) present disposal and utilization practices;
(3) potential danger, if any, to human health and the
environment from the disposal and reuse of such materials;
(4) documented cases in which danger to human health or the
environment has been proved;
(5) alternatives to current disposal methods;
(6) the costs of such alternatives;
(7) the impact of those alternatives on the use of phosphate
rock and uranium ore, and other natural resources; and
(8) the current and potential utilization of such materials.
In furtherance of this study, the Administrator shall, as he deems
appropriate, review studies and other actions of other Federal and
State agencies concerning such waste or materials and invite
participation by other concerned parties, including industry and
other Federal and State agencies, with a view toward avoiding
duplication of effort. The Administrator shall publish a report of
such study, which shall include appropriate findings, in
conjunction with the publication of the report of the study of
mining wastes required to be conducted under subsection (f) of this
section. Such report and findings shall be submitted to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the United States
Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the United
States House of Representatives.
(q) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $8,000,000
for the fiscal years 1978 and 1979 to carry out this section other
than subsection (j) of this section.
(r) Minimization of hazardous waste
The Administrator shall compile, and not later than October 1,
1986, submit to the Congress, a report on the feasibility and
desirability of establishing standards of performance or of taking
other additional actions under this chapter to require the
generators of hazardous waste to reduce the volume or quantity and
toxicity of the hazardous waste they generate, and of establishing
with respect to hazardous wastes required management practices or
other requirements to assure such wastes are managed in ways that
minimize present and future risks to human health and the
environment. Such report shall include any recommendations for
legislative changes which the Administrator determines are feasible
and desirable to implement the national policy established by
section 6902 of this title.
(s) Extending landfill life and reusing landfilled areas
The Administrator shall conduct detailed, comprehensive studies
of methods to extend the useful life of sanitary landfills and to
better use sites in which filled or closed landfills are located.
Such studies shall address -
(1) methods to reduce the volume of materials before placement
in landfills;
(2) more efficient systems for depositing waste in landfills;
(3) methods to enhance the rate of decomposition of solid waste
in landfills, in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner;
(4) methane production from closed landfill units;
(5) innovative uses of closed landfill sites, including use for
energy production such as solar or wind energy and use for metals
recovery;
(6) potential for use of sewage treatment sludge in reclaiming
landfilled areas; and
(7) methods to coordinate use of a landfill owned by one
municipality by nearby municipalities, and to establish equitable
rates for such use, taking into account the need to provide
future landfill capacity to replace that so used.
The Administrator is authorized to conduct demonstrations in the
areas of study provided in this subsection. The Administrator shall
periodically report on the results of such studies, with the first
such report not later than October 1, 1986. In carrying out this
subsection, the Administrator need not duplicate other studies
which have been completed and may rely upon information which has
previously been compiled.