The Senate, by unanimous consent, passed S. 3109. [See http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-3109.] The legislation would authorize the establishment of an electronic manifest system for shipments of hazardous waste. [See http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s110-3109 for the text of the legislation.] The House has not taken up the legislation, and it is unclear if it will be addressed before the end of the session (after the election but before new members are sworn in). The bill requires users to pay a fee each time they submit an electronic manifest, and the fees would support the system. Comments by House members in the press suggest that some House members are bothered by having private users fund the system in lieu of EPA.
Information on EPA's proposed electronic manifest system can be found at http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/transportation/manifest/e-man.htm.
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