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

Summary

Federal agencies must increase the use of recycled mineral materials in cement and concrete for projects paid with federal money. The Administrator and each agency head must put into practice the purchasing rules and incentives that were in effect on August 10, 2005, within one year after that date. Agencies should first try to use more recovered mineral materials on project types that have rarely used them before. Key terms: Agency head — the named federal official who buys or helps pay for cement or concrete. Cement or concrete project — a highway, transportation, public building, or other public work that uses cement or concrete and federal funds. Recovered mineral component — recycled materials like ground granulated blast furnace slag (not lead slag), coal combustion fly ash, blast furnace slag aggregate (not lead slag), silica fume, and other waste materials the Administrator approves. The Administrator, working with the Secretaries of Transportation and Energy, must study how much substitution already happens, the energy and environmental benefits, barriers, ways to increase substitution, and any possible effects. The Administrator must send a report to Congress within 30 months after August 10, 2005. If the study does not find problems, the Administrator and agency heads must adopt stronger purchasing requirements and incentives within one year after the report to increase use and remove barriers. This section does not change the requirements already in section 6962.