# 119-s-3879: Spent Petroleum Catalyst Recycling and Critical Minerals and Metals Recovery Exemption Act

119-s-3879, Spent Petroleum Catalyst Recycling and Critical Minerals and Metals Recovery Exemption Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH] (R-OH); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3879
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3879
- Congress: 119
- Title: Spent Petroleum Catalyst Recycling and Critical Minerals and Metals Recovery Exemption Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-02-12
- Sponsor: Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH] (R-OH)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Energy
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Exempts certain units that reclaim valuable metals from spent petroleum catalysts from EPA’s Boilers and Industrial Furnaces (BIF) rules.** This bill would direct EPA to finalize a rule saying thermal treatment units, including roasters, and metallurgical units, including furnaces and hydrometallurgical processes, that reclaim metals like vanadium from spent hydrotreating (K171) and hydrorefining (K172) catalysts are not subject to BIF requirements under subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. - Domestic metal recyclers and petroleum refiners: would face less regulatory overlap when processing K171 and K172 materials, making onshore reclamation of vanadium and related metals simpler and more predictable. - Third-party reclaimers and transporters: could use the transfer-based exclusion at 40 CFR 261.4(a)(24) when spent catalyst is sent off-site for metals recovery, clarifying handling options. - Regulatory timing and certainty: the required final rule would take effect on publication in the Federal Register and the bill directs EPA to complete the rulemaking without the notice-and-comment delay in section 553 of title 5, speeding implementation.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Easier metal recycling rules for refiners: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would direct EPA to revise 40 C.F.R. 266.100(c) and (d). The rule would exempt units that reclaim metals, including vanadium, from spent petroleum catalysts K171 and K172. Covered units would include thermal treatment units like roasters and metallurgical units like furnaces an…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-2121: SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act
- 119-s-4378: Protecting American Taxpayers Act
- 119-s-3903: Railway Safety Act of 2026
- 119-s-5154: CHAT Act 2.0

## Sources
- [119-s-3879 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3879)

## Related
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-2121: SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2121)
- [119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4952)
- [119-s-4378: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4378)
- [119-s-3903: Railway Safety Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3903)
- [119-s-5154: CHAT Act 2.0](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5154)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3879 (as of 2026-09-10).