The MICRO Plastics Act of 2020 was introduced in the Senate on February 13, 2020 by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), on behalf of himself and Senators Graham (R-SC), Collins (R-ME), Sullivan (R-AK), Coons (D-DE), and Duckworth (D-IL). The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. An identical bill was introduced in the House by Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) on the same day and referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
THE BILLS: H.R. 5902 S. 3306 What do these bills do? The goal of these identical bills is to begin to address the issue of small, micro-sized plastic particles in the environment. According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, micro-sized particles are less than 5mm (1). These bills establish a pilot program that would allow the Administrator of the EPA to test the effectiveness of technology and techniques in removing microplastics from the environment. This pilot program would also work to test preventing new releases of microplastics to the environment. The EPA would consult with the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee, stakeholders, and experts in the field to select projects for the program. These projects would test mechanical removal systems (like pumps and filtration units), green infrastructure (like stormwater harvest systems, plant/soil systems, etc.), and natural infrastructure (natural mitigation solutions like mangroves, wetlands, reefs, dunes, etc. (2)). The bill states that the projects could be conducted in stormwater systems, wastewater treatment facilities, drinking water systems, and marine environments such as ports, harbors, inland waterways or estuaries. After 180 days, the EPA Administrator would report to Congress with a summary of their outreach conducted. Why was it proposed? Note: The bill does not state reasons for its proposal, so this section is based on the EPA’s assessment (1) of microplastics. The EPA reported that in 2018, 35.7 million tons of plastic was generated in the United States alone, and only about three million tons of plastic were recycled. Plastics are particularly harmful because of their longevity, and in a marine ecosystem present physical and chemical hazards to both birds and marine wildlife. In addition to destroying ecosystems, plastics also litter our harbors and beaches. Impacts include: disruption to our fishing industries, tourism (and therefore local economies), and navigation. Microplastics are estimated to be 90% of the plastic content in the open sea marine environment and mostly occur due to breakdown of larger pieces of plastic. These plastics are also small enough that they can pass through wastewater treatment facilities easily without being removed. They cause severe issues because marine life often sees them as food, which can kill organisms andresult in the destruction of ecosystems over time. Additionally, plastics act somewhat like magnets and attract organic pollutants such as DDT, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Similar to mercury in fish, these compounds bioaccumulate in the food chain and have harmful impacts on humans. The best way to combat this problem is by preventing microplastics from entering our waterways. Benefits Testing the ability for currently established systems such as wastewater treatment facilities and drinking water systems to trap and collect microplastics before they enter the environment is a first step before establishing new systems. Additionally, green infrastructure such as rain gardens provide greenery, improved air quality, and improved water quality to a city and would have the additional benefit of rerouting water from directly entering stormwater drains (3). Challenges Microplastics come from a long list of products - from our clothing to packaging (4). Removing microplastics from the environment is difficult because there are many sources that are difficult to track. Unlike our food that naturally breaks down into soil, as plastic breaks down, it breaks into increasingly smaller pieces but does not go away (5). Filtration units are expensive and require regular replacement and maintenance. Micro plastics may be so small that they pass through the pores in the filtration units (4). This could be a reason why the small plastics make their way through water treatment facilities. Want to advocate? Do these bills resonate with you? Do you want to see them become a law? Have concerns or thoughts you would like to discuss? The Senate bill has five cosponsors: Lindsey Graham [R-SC], Susan Collins [R-ME], Dan Sullivan [R-AK], Christopher Coons [D-DE], Tammy Duckworth [D-IL]. The House bill has eight co-sponsors: Suzanne Bonamici [D-OR-1], W. Gregory Steube [R-FL-17], Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen [R-AS-At Large], Earl Blumenauer [D-OR-3], Matt Cartwright [D-PA-8], Ed Case [D-HI-1], Ron Kind [D-WI-3], Matt Gaetz [R-FL-1]. Do you see your Congresspeople listed above? If not, you can email your policymakers by finding their emails at https://www.congress.gov/members?searchResultViewType=expanded or call their offices to voice your thoughts. Remember to use our Resources page for more information and guidance when reaching out! Footnotes:
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