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STATEMENT BY CAROL M. BROWNER EPA ADMINISTRATOR ON HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE MARKUP OF SUPERFUND (H.R. 2580)

Release Date: 10/14/99
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The Clinton-Gore Administration has worked for six years to enact responsible Superfund reform legislation. Unfortunately, the bill marked up yesterday by the House Commerce Committee, H.R. 2580, would reverse much of the progress we have made in toxic waste cleanups through wide-ranging administrative reforms.

As a result of our reform efforts, today toxic waste cleanups are 20 percent faster and 20 percent cheaper. More than three times as many cleanups have been completed under this Administration than in all previous years combined.

The bill marked up the Commerce Committee would slow the current pace of cleanup. Even worse, the bill fails to uphold the principle of “polluter pays,” and instead would shift the cost of toxic waste cleanup from the polluter to the general public. It also weakens cleanup standards, fails to protect uncontaminated ground water, and in some cases could weaken protections for drinking water. Provisions that would protect sensitive populations like children were voted down. We also are concerned that Congress failed to reinstate the lapsed toxic-waste-cleanup fees on polluters.

This Administration remains committed to working with Congress to enact responsible toxic-cleanup legislation. We need legislation that builds on the achievements of the Administration’s Superfund reforms. We believe that Rep. Edolphus Towns’ offer of an alternative bill represents the right step forward. The legislation marked up in the Commerce Committee is a step backwards.


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