US HB7523

Exempts facilities that recover vanadium and other critical minerals from spent petroleum catalyst (EPA Hazardous Waste Nos. K171 and K172) from Boilers and Industrial Furnaces (BIF) requirements under the Solid Waste Disposal Act

Applies exemption to thermal treatment units (roasters) that process spent catalyst into intermediate products and metallurgical units (furnaces, hydrometallurgical units) that reclaim metals from the catalyst

Clarifies that the transfer-based exclusion under 40 CFR 261.4(a)(24) allows spent petroleum catalyst to be sent to third parties for metals reclamation

Directs EPA to promulgate a final rule implementing these exemptions immediately upon Federal Register publication, bypassing standard notice and comment requirements

Aims to increase domestic vanadium production for steel, defense, infrastructure, and energy sectors while reducing dependence on foreign sources such as China and Russia