To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study of the effectiveness of silver-based biocides as an alternative treatment to preserve wood.

February 11, 2003

Mr. GIBBONS (for himself and Mr. OTTER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study of the effectiveness of silver-based biocides as an alternative treatment to preserve wood.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Wood Preservation Safety Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF SILVER-BASED BIOCIDES AS WOOD PRESERVATION TREATMENT.

(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds the following:

(1) The Environmental Protection Agency, the chemical industry, and the home improvement industry have negotiated a voluntary agreement to phase out the use of arsenic-based preservatives in pressure treated wood by December 31, 2003.

(2) In order to maintain the wood treatment industry in the United States, a suitable, safe alternative to arsenic-based preservatives must be produced.

(3) Silver has great potential as a viable, safe, and cost-effective alternative as a wood preservative.

(4) Silver has been used since ancient times as a treatment to prevent the spread of bacteria, and silver-based biocides are used today in a wide range of applications.

(5) As of 2001, silver was commercially produced in 12 States (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington), and silver remains a readily available mineral.

(6) The properties of silver biocide need to be further studied to determine the effectiveness of its use as a wood preservative.

(b) STUDY REQUIRED- The Secretary of Agriculture shall direct the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, to conduct a study during fiscal years 2003 and 2004 regarding the effectiveness of silver-based biocides as a wood preservation treatment.

(c) FUNDING SOURCE- To provide funds for the study, the Secretary of the Interior shall return to the Secretary of Agriculture $8,000,000 of the funds that were transferred by the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to section 2507 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-171; 116 Stat. 275; 43 U.S.C. 2211 note) and remain unobligated as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

END