§6966 Increased Use of Recovered Mineral Component in Federally Funded Projects Involving Procurement of Cement or Concrete

Summary

Agencies must increase the use of recycled mineral materials in cement and concrete when federal money pays for those projects. Within 1 year after August 8, 2005, the Administrator and agency heads must put into effect the procurement rules and incentives that existed on that date to encourage cement and concrete that include recovered mineral components. Agencies must try first to boost use in projects where these materials were rarely used before. These actions must follow the rules in section 6962. Definitions: Agency head — the Secretary of Transportation and other federal agency leaders who regularly buy or fund cement or concrete; Cement or concrete project — a highway, transportation facility, government building, or public facility project that uses cement or concrete paid for with federal funds; Recovered mineral component — recycled materials such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (not lead slag), coal combustion fly ash, and other approved industrial waste byproducts. The Administrator, with the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Energy, must study how much substitution of these materials would save energy and help the environment. The study must measure current substitution and benefits, find procurement barriers (including exceptions), and identify ways, standards, and any environmental or economic effects of more substitution. The Administrator must send a report to Congress not later than 30 months after August 8, 2005. Unless the study finds serious problems, the Administrator and agency heads must, within 1 year after that report, create stronger procurement rules and incentives to increase substitution and remove identified barriers. Nothing here changes the requirements of section 6962.