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HR 1734 114th Congress House Environmental Protection Administrative law and regulatory procedures Air quality Building construction Coal Electric power generation and transmission Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental assessment, monitoring, research Environmental regulatory procedures Hazardous wastes and toxic substances Intergovernmental relations Licensing and registrations Soil pollution Solid waste and recycling State and local government operations Water quality

Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015

Introduced: April 13, 2015 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 35 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 14, 2016
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Jul 23, 2015
Received in the Senate.
Jul 22, 2015
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 22, 2015
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 258 - 166 (Roll no. 458).
Jul 22, 2015
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 184 - 240 (Roll no. 457). (consideration: CR H5379-5380)
Jul 22, 2015
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H5379)
Jul 22, 2015
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Foster motion to recommit with instructions pending a reservation of a point of order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to require an agency implementing any coal ash permit ensure that all disposal sites meet criteria for design, construction, operation, and maintenance sufficient to prevent contamination of groundwater and sources of drinking water, including the Great Lakes. Subsequently, the reservation was removed.
Jul 22, 2015
Mr. Foster moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (consideration: H5378-5380; text: CR H5378)
Jul 22, 2015
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H5378)
Jul 22, 2015
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1734.
Jul 22, 2015
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Butterfield amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Butterfield demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
Jul 22, 2015
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 369, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Butterfield amendment No. 6.
Jul 22, 2015
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Adams amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Adams demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
Jul 22, 2015
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 369, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Adams amendment No. 5.
Jul 22, 2015
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Connolly amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Connolly demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
Jul 22, 2015
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 369, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Connolly amendment No. 4.
Jul 22, 2015
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 369, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Castor (FL) amendment No. 3.
Jul 22, 2015
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Pallone amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
Jul 22, 2015
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 369, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pallone amendment No. 2.
Jul 22, 2015
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 369, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Shimkus amendment No. 1.
Jul 22, 2015
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1734.
Jul 22, 2015
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 369 and Rule XVIII.
Jul 22, 2015
The Speaker designated the Honorable Randy Hultgren to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Jul 22, 2015
Resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1599 and H.R. 1734.
Jul 22, 2015
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 369. (consideration: H5358-5380; text as reported CR H5365-5370)
Jul 22, 2015
Rule H. Res. 369 passed House.
Jul 21, 2015
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 369 Reported to House. Resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1599 and H.R. 1734.
Jun 9, 2015
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 103.
Jun 9, 2015
Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-143.
Apr 17, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
Apr 15, 2015
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 19.
Apr 15, 2015
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 14, 2015
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 13, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Apr 13, 2015
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Jul 22, 2015 House · vote #458 On Passage Passed 258–166 See who voted →
Jul 22, 2015 House · vote #457 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions Failed 184–240 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 6

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

2 agreed to 4 failed

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 677 — Amendment sought to allow the Administrator of EPA to prevent the legislation from going into effect if it is… Failed Jul 22, 2015
HAMDT 676 Adams, Alma S. Amendment sought to require the owner or operator of a coal combustion residuals surface impoundment to surve… Failed Jul 22, 2015
HAMDT 675 — Amendment sought to require all inactive surface impoundments that begin closure proceedings to put in place … Failed Jul 22, 2015
HAMDT 674 Castor, Kathy Amendment requires the owners and operators of coal ash ponds to immediately clean up pollution from spills o… Agreed to Jul 22, 2015
HAMDT 673 Pallone, Frank Amendment sought to preserve transparency requirements in EPA's final coal ash rule to ensure public access t… Failed Jul 22, 2015
HAMDT 672 — Amendment updates the reference to the final rule by inserting the date the final rule was published in the F… Agreed to Jul 22, 2015
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends subtitle D (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act to establish a permit program for coal combustion residuals (coal ash) that states may elect to administer. The program outlines the criteria that a state must use if it chooses to adopt and enforce a permit program regulating the management and disposal of coal ash generated by electric utilities and independent power producers. The program applies to the disposal of coal ash into landfills or surface impoundments, sand or gravel pits, quarries, or lateral expansions of the structures. The structural criteria concern: (1) design, location, and integrity; (2) financial assurance; (3) groundwater and surface water protections; (4) closure procedures; and (5) air quality with respect to fugitive dust.

In order to adopt or implement a permit program, the lead state implementing agency must maintain a program for control of hazardous waste disposal in open dumps or an authorized state hazardous waste program under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. The implementing agency must ensure that certain information concerning the program is publicly available.

A state that chooses to adopt a coal ash program is given sole enforcement authority. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must implement a program for a state if: (1) a state's program fails to meet those criteria, or (2) a state does not implement a program. A coal ash permit program implemented by the EPA shall not apply to the utilization, placement, and storage of coal ash at surface or underground coal mining and reclamation operations.

Certain uses of coal ash are not considered as receipt of such material for purposes of this bill. These include uses for engineered structural fill, storage in a manner consistent with the management of raw materials, and such beneficial uses as substitution for virgin material (in which case the use must be shown to not result in environmental releases greater than those from a material or product that would be used instead of the coal ash or exceed relevant benchmarks for human and ecological receptors).

The bill revises implementation of the EPA rule governing the disposal of coal ash, entitled "Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System; Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities." The rule may be implemented only through the permit program established by the bill.

What's happening now July 14, 2016

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

 Related & companion bills 4
  • HRES 369 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1599) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to f…
  • S 1803 Related bill Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015
  • S 2446 Related bill Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2016
  • HR 5788 Related bill Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2016
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 20
All 20 Democratic 2 Republican 15
R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Jun 3, 2015
Graves, Tom
· May 21, 2015
 R
Rogers, Mike D.
Alabama · May 14, 2015
 R
Bost, Mike
Illinois · May 12, 2015
 R
Rogers, Harold
Kentucky · May 1, 2015
 R
Gosar, Paul A.
Arizona · Apr 30, 2015
 R
Bilirakis, Gus M.
Florida · Apr 23, 2015
 R
Womack, Steve
Arkansas · Apr 23, 2015
 R
Latta, Robert E.
Ohio · Apr 14, 2015
 R
Barr, Andy
Kentucky · Apr 13, 2015
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Apr 13, 2015
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Apr 13, 2015
 R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Apr 13, 2015
 R
Guthrie, Brett
Kentucky · Apr 13, 2015
 R
Huizenga, Bill
Michigan · Apr 13, 2015
Jenkins, Evan
· Apr 13, 2015
 R
Kelly, Mike
Pennsylvania · Apr 13, 2015
 R
Lummis, Cynthia M.
Wyoming · Apr 13, 2015
Murphy, Tim
· Apr 13, 2015
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Apr 13, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1734: Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1734/
MLA
"H.R. 1734: Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1734/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1734, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1734/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1734: Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1734/)
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