[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

                                 ______


                          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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