Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am introducing today, with my colleagues Senators Durbin, Stabenow, and Brown, the Petroleum Coke Transparency and Public Health Study Act, which would require the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on the health and environmental impacts of petroleum coke. This bill, which is a companion to a bill introduced by Representative Peters on June 6, 2013, was motivated by a situation in Detroit.

In March 2013, large piles of uncontained petroleum coke stored along the banks of the Detroit River became publicly visible, raising questions about the potential environmental and public health impacts. Sitting just feet from the Detroit River, the piles have grown to nearly three stories high over the past several months. I want to make sure that this low-grade fuel does not pose a threat to the people of Detroit or impair our waterways. The Detroit River is a valued resource that must be preserved and protected.

Petroleum coke is a byproduct of refining crude oil into liquid fuels such as gasoline and diesel. It is a commodity that can be cofired with coal to produce low-cost energy. In recent years, a number of U.S. refineries have undergone expansions in order to accommodate increases in processing crude oil, including the Marathon refinery in Detroit, MI; the Cenovus refinery in Wood River, IL; and the BP refinery in Whiting, IN.

With increases in crude oil processing in the United States and Canada, petroleum coke production is expected to rise. However, the impacts of petroleum coke on public health and the environment have not been fully assessed. Further, each State has different regulations for managing, storing, and transporting it. It is important that we understand the market projections for petroleum coke, how to properly manage it, and its potential impacts on public health and the environment.

This bill would address these key knowledge gaps by requiring a comprehensive study on petroleum coke. The study would include an analysis of the public health and environmental impacts of the production, transportation, storage, and use of petroleum coke; an assessment of best practices for storing, transporting, and managing petroleum coke; and a quantitative analysis of current and projected domestic petroleum coke production and utilization locations.

We should ensure that energy production occurs in a diligent and responsible manner and does not harm public health or our environment. With a changing energy market and limited dollars, we must have a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively and efficiently manage our future energy supply. This bill would give us the tools to properly manage petroleum coke production with good environmental and public stewardship.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source