[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 20 (Tuesday, March 1, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: March 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
REINVENTING ROADS
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HON. SAM COPPERSMITH
of arizona
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, March 1, 1994
Mr. COPPERSMITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform my colleagues of
an important event that occurred last week.
A coalition of over 100 environmental, industrial, health, and
municipal organizations joined together to promote an extremely
important provision of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency
Act of 1991 [ISTEA]. Section 1038 of ISTEA requires State departments
of transportation to use a minimum amount of recycled rubber from tires
in their road construction projects in 1994, with increasing amounts of
crumb rubber to be used in later years.
This simple provision is important because it offers municipalities
relief from the 250 million used tires that are discarded annually in
America. Currently, these tires are stored in immense stockpiles, which
present a terrible environmental risk as sources of disease and
nonpoint source groundwater pollution. I also am sure many of you are
seen footage of massive tire fires spewing toxins into the air. Section
1038 offers some relief from this very real problem.
In addition to helping decrease the environmental and safety risks
posed by discarded tires, use of recycled rubber makes good economic
sense. The State departments of transportation in Arizona, California,
and Florida have found that mixing recycled rubber into asphalt
produces longer lasting roads that are better able to handle the
stresses of weather and heavy use. Many of you may not be aware that
Arizona's climate encompasses both the extreme heat of the desert and
the bitter cold of the high mountains; rubber asphalt has proven its
worth, and its effectiveness, in all climatic conditions throughout the
State.
Those who resist introduction of a new technology which will reduce
the need for frequent road repairs used the 1994 transportation
appropriations bill to weaken section 1038 by preventing the Federal
Highway Administration from enforcing the provision's mandate.
Yesterday's press conference was designed to forestall further
weakening of section 1038 by demonstrating the support for recycling
tires into rubber pavement.
Government must take advantage of new technologies like crumb rubber
to make our tax dollars stretch further, to help solve environmental
problems, and to make better roads. I look forward to working with
interested Members to amend the legislation authorizing the National
Highway System to include incentives for State departments of
transportation to use recycled rubber in all their road projects.
Mr. Speaker, I include a statement by the coalition in support of
section 1038 for the Record.
Statement of Support for Section 1038, Use of Recycled Paving Materials
(Rubberized Asphalt) Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
of 1991 [ISTEA]
The undersigned organizations support full implementation
of Section 1038, Use of Recycled Paving Materials, of the
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991
(ISTEA). We understand that some Members of Congress, with
the help of some special interest groups, may attempt to
modify Section 1038 during consideration of the National
Highway System early this year.
Section 1038 of ISTEA is a win-win situation for state and
local governments because it improves roads and recycles used
tires. It requires that all states meet a minimum utilization
requirement for recycled rubber (termed Crumb Rubber
Modifiers--CRM--by the Federal Highway Administration) in
asphalt pavements. Under the statute, five percent of each
state's federally funded asphalt pavement projects must use
crumb rubber derived from scrap tires beginning in January
1994. This requirement increases by five percent each year
until fully implemented in 1997, reaching a 20 percent
minimum requirement.
Section 1038 is a landmark law. It is the first minimum
recycled content requirement passed by Congress and is one of
the most significant federal recycling provisions on the
books today. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]
estimates that 250 million used tires are generated each
year. Two to three billion tires already litter the nation,
causing costly solid waste problems for many state and local
governments. Section 1038 directly addresses these problems.
Scrap tire stockpiles provide breeding grounds for disease-
carrying mosquitoes and rodents. Frequent fires in scrap tire
piles release harmful pollutants that pose threats to air
quality. The run-off from tire pile fires can also pollute
surrounding water sources and contribute to soil
contamination. Full implementation of Section 1038 will
result in the high-value recycling of approximately 100
million used tires each year.
Not only will Section 1038 help alleviate the massive used
tire problem, but it also can significantly improve the
quality and durability of our nation's roads. Proper
utilization of crumb rubber asphalt decreases road
maintenance by increasing resistance to pavement cracking and
stress from heavy loads.
The economic development impact of Section 1038 is
significant. Full implementation of 1038 will require the
construction of 300 new shredding and crumbing facilities to
meet the demand for crumb rubber, creating 3,000 to 5,000 new
jobs in and around these operations. Also, the crumbing
facilities alone will generate an estimated $200 million in
annual revenue to add to local tax bases.
Section 1038 addresses multiple national problems by
requiring states to use crumb rubber from scrap tires to
improve asphalt pavement performance and durability. It
offers a sound solution to the massive tire disposal problem
while creating thousands of new jobs.
We urge the Congress to stand firm against well-financed
special interest groups seeking to overturn this statute. We
further urge Congress to maintain and fully implement Section
1038 of ISTEA.
Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination,
Michigan, Ann Hunt,
Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads, Sandra Tokarski,
Citizens for a Better Environment, Wisconsin, Susan Mudd,
Clean Water Action, Michigan, Dave Dempsey,
College of Wooster, Bill Gornall,
Connecticut Recyclers Coalition, Winston Averill,
Conservation Council of North Carolina, Bill Holman,
Defenders of Wildlife, Randy Sargent,
Delaware Valley Clean Air Council, Joseph Minott,
East Brookfield Recycling Committee, Mark Carpentier,
East Michigan Environmental Action Council, Elizabeth
Harris,
Ecology Action of Santa Cruz, Bonnie Wilson,
Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Mike Garfield,
Environmental Action Foundation, Elizabeth Collaton,
Environmental Defense Fund, Mike Replogle,
Environmental and Energy Study Institute, Ken Murphy,
Environmental Health Watch, Ohio, Stu Greenberg,
Environmental Law and Policy Center of Midwest, Rob
Michaels,
Florida Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association, Henry
Stansell,
Friends of the Earth, Gawain Kripke,
Garbage Reincarnation, Inc., Linda Christopher,
Genesee County Area Recycling Coalition, Sue English,
Georgia Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association, Lindy
Bryant,
Gulf Coast Recycling, Penny Penrose,
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, John Mylod,
National Wildlife Federation, Sharon Newsome,
Nebraska State Recycling Association, Kay Stevens,
Neighborhood Capital Budget Group, Illinois, Jackie Leavy,
New England Association of Independent Tire Dealers,
William Boutwell,
New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse, and
Recycling, Edwin Marr,
New York Environmental Planning Lobby, Loretta Simon,
New York Public Interest Research Group, Judith Enck,
North Brookfield Recycling Committee, John Alphin,
North Carolina Recycling Association, Bobbi Tousey,
North Carolina Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association, Bob
Smith,
Northern California Recycling, Julie Fisher,
Ohio Citizen Action, Sandy Buchanen,
Oregon State Public Interest Research Group, Lauri Aunan,
Ohio Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association, Bill Floyd,
Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy Project, Bill
Magavern,
Rails-To-Trails Conservancy, Hal Hiemstra,
Recycling Advocates, Oregon, Jeanne Roy,
Recycle Ann Arbor, Tim Brownell,
Rubber Pavements Association, Gordon MacDougall,
Scenic America, Sally Oldham,
Sierra Club, Debbie Sease,
Solana Recyclers, Brooke Nash,
South Carolina Recycling Market Development Advisory
Council, Ted Campbell,
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