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Superfund & Related Clean-up Legislation

BILL NUMBER & TITLE:

S.8, SUPERFUND CLEANUP ACCELERATION ACT OF 1997

INTRODUCED BY:

Senator Robert Smith (R-NH)

Cosponsored by ABRAHAM (MI), ALLARD (CO), CHAFEE (RI), COVERDALL (GA), CRAIG (ID), DEWINE (OH), DOMENICI (NM), GORTON (WA), GRAMS (MN), HAGEL (NE), HATCH (UT), HELMS (NC), HUTCHINSON, TIM (AR), KYL (AZ), LOTT (MS), LUGAR (IN), MURKOWSKI (AK), ROBERTS (KS), SESSIONS (AL), THURMOND (SC), WARNER (VA), MACK (FL)

REFERRALS:

Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

A bill to reauthorize and amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Liability and Compensation Act of 1980. S.8 offers several new reforms for the statute's liability scheme, the role of states in the Superfund program and natural resources damages.

MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:

01/21/97 -- In the SENATE

03/04/07 -- In the SENATE

03/05/97 -- In the SENATE

AMSA ACTIONS:

The National Office is in the process of reviewing the legislation, and although this first pass at reform does not include AMSA's amendment clarifying POTW liability under the statute, the National Office will soon reinitiate negotiations with key Senate staff and members to secure their support. The National Office will be closely monitoring the progress of and hearings on S.8

Although no bill has been introduced on the House side, National Office staff has met with professional staff to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment to secure support for AMSA's amendment. Jeff More, staff to Chairman Boehlert, reiterated the Chairman's support for the amendment and indicated the Subcommittee's willingness to work toward a bipartisan introduction of AMSA's amendment at the appropriate time.

AMSA received some support for POTW Superfund relief from the National League of Cities, the International City/County Management Association, the National Association of Counties, the National Association of Towns and Townships, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Municipal Waste Management Association and the American Communities for Cleanup Equity in testimony delivered on behalf of the organizations on March 5 to the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Control and Risk Assessment. Citing the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission case, the testimony urged Senators to extend liability relief, similar to that already proposed in the legislation for municipal owners and operators of co-disposal sites, to POTWs. AMSA's proposed amendment provides more comprehensive protection of POTWs and the National Office will continue to work with these organizations as final POTW language is crafted for Superfund reform.

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BILL NUMBER & TITLE:

H.R.1711, SMALL BUSINESS REMEDIATION ACT OF 1997

INTRODUCED BY:

Representative Joe Barton (R-TX)

Cosponsored by GREEN (D-TX), CHENOWETH (R-ID), FROST (D-TX), CRAPO (R-ID), SHADEGG R-AZ), CHRISTENSEN (R-NE), RADANOVICH (R-CA), SMITH (R-TX),CAMP (R-MI), GRAHAM (R-SC), HASTINGS, RICHARD (R-WA), SESSIONS (R-TX), COLLINS (R-GA), EDWARDS (D-TX), PETERSON, COLLIN (D-MN), YOUNG, DON (R-AK), DEAL (R-GA), NEY (R-OH), SKEEN (R-MN), BEREUTER (R-NE), THORNBERRY (R-TX), WHITFIELD (R-KY)



REFERRALS:

House Committee on Commerce

House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure

House Committee on Education and the Workforce

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

To establish a maximum level of remediation for dry cleaning solvents in soil, surface water, groundwater and other environmental media. The maximum level of remediation shall be one-tenth the equivalent exposure of the workplace standard for such solvents established by the Secretary of Labor under the Occupations Safety and Health Act of 1970.

MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:

05/22/97 -- In The HOUSE

AMSA ACTIONS:

The National Office is currently reviewing the legislation.

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BILL NUMBER & TITLE:

H.R.1878, MORATORIUM ON ENFORCEMENT OF CERCLA AGAINST DE MINIMIS PARTIES

INTRODUCED BY:

Representative Charles Canady (R-FL)

Cosponsored by Parker (R-MS)

REFERRALS:

House Committee on Commerce

House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

A bill to impose an indefinite moratorium on enforcement of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 against certain de minimis parties.

MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:

06/12/97 -- In The HOUSE

AMSA ACTION:

Monitoring

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BILL NUMBER & TITLE:

H.R.2087, POLLUTER PAYS ACT OF 1997

INTRODUCED BY:

Representative Paul Gillmor (R-OH)

REFERRALS:

House Committee on Commerce

House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

A bill to amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 to require that polluters are responsible for the cleanup of hazardous substances, and for other purposes.

MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:

06/27/97 -- In the HOUSE

AMSA ACTION:

Monitoring

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BILL NUMBER & TITLE:

H.R.2485, COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION AND LIABILITY ACT OF 1980, AMENDMENT

INTRODUCED BY:

Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI)

REFERRALS:

House Committee on Commerce

House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

A bill to amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 to provide liability relief for small parties, innocent parties and prospective landowners.


MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:

09/16/97 -- In The HOUSE

AMSA ACTIONS:

Monitoring


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