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Less Pollution Through Technology Act of 1997
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to design and implement a performance-based measurement system to encourage the development of new environmental monitoring technologies.
Summary
The Less Pollution Through Technology Act directs the EPA Administrator to establish and implement a performance-based measurement system for environmental monitoring within 18 months of enactment. The new system will allow the use of new environmental monitoring technologies as long as they meet data quality assurance objectives, rather than requiring the use of specific analytical methods and procedures. The bill establishes a Performance-Based Measurement System Advisory Committee with 12 members representing industry, laboratories, state agencies, public interest groups, and technical societies to assist in developing and implementing the system. Existing analytical methods remain acceptable until the Administrator determines they are no longer acceptable. The Administrator must submit a report to Congress within 6 months outlining the plan for establishing the performance-based measurement system.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16] (D-CA)
2 cosponsors
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Zoe Lofgren’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Zoe Lofgren → · Outside spending →
Actions (10)
- Dec 9, 1997 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, and in addition to the Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman. · house
- Nov 28, 1997 Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. · house
- Nov 28, 1997 Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. · house
- Nov 26, 1997 Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment. · house
- Nov 26, 1997 Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology. · house
- Nov 13, 1997 Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure · house
- Nov 13, 1997 Referred to House Commerce · house
- Nov 13, 1997 Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Nov 13, 1997 Referred to House Science · house
- Nov 13, 1997 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 13, 1997
Ms. Lofgren introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to design and implement a performance-based measurement system to encourage the development of new environmental monitoring technologies.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Less Pollution Through Technology Act of 1997.”
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.—Congress finds the following:
(1) The development of new and innovative environmental technologies, including technologies for monitoring environmental compliance, has been identified as a priority by the Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this Act as the “Agency”).
(2) Current Agency environmental monitoring requirements typically specify the use of a particular analytical method that must be precisely followed, including the use of specific procedures and instrumentation. These requirements inhibit introduction of new environmental monitoring technologies that could prove more accurate, reliable, and cost-effective because of time consuming and labor-intensive procedures for revising regulations.
(3) The Agency is evaluating the barriers to the introduction of new and innovative environmental monitoring technologies and has begun the transition of converting from the current analytical methods approach to a performance-based measurement system.
(b) Purposes.—The purposes of this Act are to—
(1) facilitate the development, introduction, and use of new and innovative environmental monitoring technologies through the conversion of the Agency’s analytical methods to a performance-based measurement system; and
(2) establish a deadline for the Agency to implement a performance-based measurement system to cover all media and multimedia environmental monitoring.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term “Agency” means the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(3) The term “environmental monitoring technologies” means procedures or techniques associated with the performance, technical capability, or environmental impact of an analytical method.
(4) The term “performance-based measurement system” means a system that ensures environmental monitoring data quality assurance objectives are met, without prescribing particular procedures, techniques, or instrumentation for meeting such objectives.
SEC. 4. PERFORMANCE-BASED MEASUREMENT SYSTEM.
(a) Establishment.—(1) No later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish and begin implementing a performance-based measurement system that will facilitate the use of new environmental monitoring technologies, particularly monitoring required to demonstrate compliance with laws and regulations.
(2) Notwithstanding the implementation of a performance-based measurement system, analytical methods existing on the date of enactment of this Act shall be deemed acceptable to the Administrator until such time as the Administrator determines that such methods are no longer acceptable.
(b) Construction.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to permit the Agency to devise or endorse a process that permits or requires the rating or evaluation of one technology or instrument over another. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require the approval of a particular environmental technology or instrument.
(c) Status.—A performance-based measurement system implemented pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be equivalent to Agency analytical methods existing on the date of enactment of this Act for purposes of compliance with all applicable environmental statutes and regulations.
SEC. 5. PERFORMANCE-BASED MEASUREMENT SYSTEM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.—The Administrator shall establish a Performance-Based Measurement System Advisory Committee no later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Purposes.—The Performance-Based Measurement System Advisory Committee shall—
(1) assist the Administrator in developing a plan for implementation of a performance-based measurement system;
(2) advise the Administrator regarding how Agency policies, regulations, standards, and procedures can be used to implement a performance-based measurement system; and
(3) assist the Administrator in developing the report required by section 5 of this Act.
(c) Membership.—The Performance-Based Measurement System Advisory Committee shall be comprised of 12 members selected for appointment to provide a broad and balanced representation of interested parties, including the analytical instruments industry, environmental testing laboratories, representatives from State regulatory agencies, public interest groups, and professional or technical societies.
(d) Duration.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to the duration of the advisory committee established under this section.
(e) Duties.—The Performance-Based Measurement System Advisory Committee shall convene at least twice a year, and may meet at additional times as required by the Administrator. The Performance- Based Measurement System Advisory Committee shall submit to the Administrator such recommendations as it believes are consistent with its purposes. The Administrator shall make available to the Performance-Based Measurement System Advisory Committee such staff as are necessary to carry out its purposes.
SEC. 6. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
No later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report containing a plan to establish a performance-based measurement system approval process in accordance with section 4. <all>
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