[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         EPA UNFUNDED MANDATES

  (Mr. CASTLE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, all over America today there are Governors 
and county officials and mayors who are making their decisions as to 
how to fund their budgets. Generally they are going to start by looking 
at what the Federal Government tells them they have to do, be it 
Medicaid, or whatever it may be.
  Clearly in the area of the environment they run into many unfunded 
mandates, which we have heard a lot of discussion of here today.
  Mr. Speaker, there is an amendment which is introduced by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Clinger] that is made part of the rule 
which will come before us which will address this problem. The 
amendment would require the EPA to develop and implement a strategy to 
relieve the burdens of unfunded environmental mandates on State and 
local governments, and it would encourage the EPA to be flexible, so 
that environmental goals can be achieved while lessening economic 
impact. It does not oppose strong, effective environmental laws or 
standards. It is supported by the National Conference of State 
Legislatures, the National Association of Towns and Townships, the 
National Association of Counties, and probably any local official out 
there who understands what a burden this is.
  Mr. Speaker, as an example, in Midland, MI, they spent over $250,000 
over the past 3 years to remove petroleum-contaminated soil so that an 
asphalt parking lot could be put on top of the dirt. Asphalt, of 
course, is a petroleum product.
  Mr. Speaker, in Garden City, MI, in the Safe Drinking Water Act, they 
spent over $24,000 to test for 43 pesticides which are not there.
  Mr. Speaker, the time has come for us to do something about this. I 
hope we will all support the amendment to the EPA elevation bill today.

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