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Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act

Introduced: July 12, 1995 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 22 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 13, 1996
Became Public Law No: 104-142.
May 13, 1996
Signed by President.
May 2, 1996
Presented to President.
Apr 29, 1996
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Apr 25, 1996
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S4265-4266)
Apr 25, 1996
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S4265-4266)
Apr 24, 1996
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Apr 23, 1996
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Apr 23, 1996
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Apr 23, 1996
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Apr 23, 1996
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Apr 23, 1996
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3671-3679)
Apr 23, 1996
Mr. Oxley moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Apr 23, 1996
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 260.
Apr 23, 1996
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Commerce. H. Rept. 104-530.
Apr 16, 1996
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous Materials Discharged.
Apr 16, 1996
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Apr 16, 1996
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 21, 1996
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 17, 1995
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous Materials.
Jul 12, 1995
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Jul 12, 1995
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act

Title II: Mercury-Containing Battery Management Act

Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a program to provide information on the proper handling and disposal of used regulated batteries and rechargeable consumer products with nonremovable batteries.

Defines a "regulated battery" as a rechargeable battery that contains a cadmium or lead electrode or contains other electrode chemistries and is the subject of a specified determination by the Administrator.

Establishes civil penalties for violations of this Act.

Sets forth recordkeeping requirements and establishes access authorities for the Administrator.

Authorizes appropriations.

Title I: Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act - Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act - Prohibits any person from selling for use in the United States a regulated battery or a rechargeable consumer product ready for retail sale and manufactured on or after 12 months after this Act's enactment date unless the battery is easily removable from the product or is sold separately. Sets forth labeling requirements, including that the label contain a statement that the battery must be recycled or disposed of properly.

Authorizes the Administrator, upon determining that other rechargeable batteries having electrode chemistries different from regulated batteries are toxic and may cause substantial harm if discarded for land disposal or incineration, to promulgate requirements for: (1) labeling such batteries and related products; and (2) easy removability of regulated batteries from rechargeable consumer products designed to contain such batteries.

Provides for exemptions from this Act's requirements under certain conditions.

Title II: Mercury-Containing Battery Management Act - Mercury-Containing Battery Management Act - Prohibits the sale or offering for sale or promotional purposes of: (1) alkaline-manganese batteries manufactured on or after January 1, 1996, with a mercury content that was intentionally introduced (limits the content in alkaline-manganese button cells to 25 milligrams of mercury per button cell); (2) zinc carbon batteries manufactured on or after January 1, 1996, that contain mercury that was intentionally introduced; (3) button cell mercuric-oxide batteries for use in the United States on or after January 1, 1996; and (4) any mercuric-oxide battery on or after January 1, 1996, unless the manufacturer identifies a collection site that has all required Federal, State, and local government approvals, to which persons may send such batteries for recycling or disposal and informs its purchasers of such site and of a telephone number to get information about sending such batteries for recycling or disposal.

Authorizes the Administrator, upon the petition of a person that proposes a new use for a battery technology or the use of a battery described in this title in a new product, to exempt such new use or product from this title if there exist safeguards to ensure that the battery or product will not be disposed of in an incinerator, composting facility, or landfill (other than a facility regulated under subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act).

What's happening now May 13, 1996

Became Public Law No: 104-142.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 1 Independent 1