Senate Bill Report SB 5526 — Studying the global availability of lithium and rare earth minerals
Summary
As of January 20, 2022, this Senate Bill Report on SB 5526 describes a bill directing the Department of Commerce to report to the Legislature by December 31, 2023 on the global availability of lithium and rare earth minerals used in battery manufacturing. The background section says lithium and cobalt are not considered rare earth minerals but are used in battery production. In the Staff Summary of Public Testimony, Senator Phil Fortunato, Prime Sponsor, appears under PRO, and Jim King of the Independent Business Association appears under OTHER, saying auto wrecking yards would like to see recycling of these batteries added to the bill. The report lists the Appropriation as None, the Fiscal Note as Available, and an effective date ninety days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
- Issuer
- Congressional materials
- Document type
- Report
- Date
- 2022-02-01
- Case
- 2022 02 01 A29729 D240398 Bill Report 5526 Sbr Bfst Ta 22
Cite this document
“Senate Bill Report SB 5526 — Studying the global availability of lithium and rare earth minerals.”
Original at app.leg.wa.gov, dated 2022-02-01. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2022-02-01-2022-02-01-a29729-d240398-bill-report-5526-sbr-bfst-ta-22/
, SHA-256 c5be7ddc49a254c9b664fe67be321488f2d5194c4c87f86dec47972bd2d66ef3.Full text
SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5526
As of January 20, 2022
Title: An act relating to studying the global availability of lithium and rare earth minerals for
battery manufacturing.
Brief Description: Studying the global availability of lithium and rare earth minerals for battery
manufacturing.
Sponsors: Senators Fortunato, Padden and Wilson, J..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Business, Financial Services & Trade: 1/20/22.
Brief Summary of Bill
• Requires the Department of Commerce to submit a report to the
Legislature examining the global availability of lithium and rare earth
minerals used in battery manufacturing.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, FINANCIAL SERVICES & TRADE
Staff: Kellee Gunn (786-7429)
Background: Rare Earth Minerals. Rare earth minerals are necessary components in a
wide range of consumer products. These products include batteries and goods such as
electric and hybrid vehicles, televisions, cell phones, and computer hard drives. Lithium
and cobalt are not considered rare earth minerals, but are used in battery production.
Though deposits are found throughout the world, most rare earth minerals are produced for
consumer products in China.
Summary of Bill: By December 31, 2023, the Department of Commerce must submit a
report to the Legislature examining the global availability of lithium and rare earth minerals
used in battery manufacturing. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Joint
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
constitute a statement of legislative intent.
Senate Bill Report -1- SB 5526
Center for Deployment and Research in Earth Abundant Materials may be consulted in the
preparation of the report.
It is the intent of the Legislature to provide sufficient funding for the report.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: A delegation from the Congo recently came
to visit our state. One of their concerns was running out of lithium and cobalt, elements
used in battery production. Many people are talking about running out of gas but not about
these elements or rare earth minerals. Solar relies on the use of batteries that uses these
elements. Many of the products we use such as cell phones are dependent on these
elements.
OTHER: Auto wrecking yards would like to see one more thing added to this bill. There
is nothing being done about the recycling of these batteries. Recycling could be one of the
best sources of these elements and rare earth minerals. Lithium and rare earth mining is
dangerous and bad for the environment. Building up our recycling of this will be helpful to
everyone. Batteries are currently just sitting in wrecking yards, and they cannot be piled up
because that is dangerous. We need to build this recycling infrastructure. California has
had a task force on recycling these types of batteries and has looked at other issues around
electric vehicles. California is about two years ahead of us on this. We shouldn't wait until
there is a situation like what we had with our nuclear waste.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Phil Fortunato, Prime Sponsor.
OTHER: Jim King, Independent Business Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.
Senate Bill Report -2- SB 5526
File and source
- File
- 2022-02-01_a29729_d240398_bill-report-5526-sbr-bfst-ta-22.pdf
- Size
- 7,477 bytes
- SHA-256
- c5be7ddc49a254c9b664fe67be321488f2d5194c4c87f86dec47972bd2d66ef3
- Original
- app.leg.wa.gov