To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out certain activities to protect communities from the harmful effects of plastics, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · April 18, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
# Summary of S. 4194: Protecting Communities from Plastics Act of 2024
This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to protect communities from plastics production and pollution through multiple regulatory and environmental justice measures. The legislation imposes a temporary moratorium on new permits for plastics manufacturing facilities while the EPA develops comprehensive environmental standards, and prohibits the export of covered plastic products and feedstocks during this period. The bill requires the EPA to establish stricter air and water pollution standards for petrochemical and plastic production facilities within specified timelines, with particular attention to storage vessels, flaring, and continuous emissions monitoring.
The bill emphasizes environmental justice by requiring the EPA to conduct environmental justice assessments for all permits to plastics facilities, mandate consultation with nearby communities before permits are approved, and establish community benefit agreements. It establishes a temporary pause period during which new permits cannot be issued, lasting until all required regulations take effect. The legislation also sets federal targets to reduce single-use plastic packaging by at least 25 percent by 2034 and establish reuse and refill targets of at least 30 percent by 2034, while funding innovation grants for reusable packaging systems and requiring studies on microplastics in food and the human body.
Additionally, the bill restricts where new plastics facilities can be built, prohibiting permits within five miles of schools, homes, hospitals, and other community buildings, and requires producers to report on plastic manufacturing and chemical contents. The EPA must assess cumulative health risks from plastic facilities in vulnerable communities and evaluate styrene and vinyl chloride for high-priority regulation under toxic substances laws. Various agricultural provisions support replacing plastic use in farming with biodegradable alternatives through grants and conservation programs.
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