[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          NO COMMON SENSE EPA

  (Mr. ALLARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, recently I spoke to the House concerning an 
enforcement action by the Environmental Protection Agency against the 
town of Fort Morgan, CO.
  This town of only 9,600 residents continues to be the victim of a 
Federal bureaucracy that is out of control. The EPA has taken the city 
to Federal court, alleging a failure to properly enforce the Clean 
Water Act. The problem is--there is nothing wrong with the water in 
Fort Morgan. There has been no harm done to the people or the 
environment. The fine is being assessed simply because the EPA does not 
like the way the city has chosen to enforce the law.
  What makes this case particularly bizarre is the fact that the city 
is willing to fix any problems the EPA has. The city is even willing to 
build a new $13 million waste water facility.
  Despite all this, the EPA insists on punishing the city of Fort 
Morgan. It is now insisting on a fine of $675,000, or more than $70 for 
every resident of Fort Morgan. This is way out of line--past fines to 
small and medium-size communities have ranged from 13 cents per person 
to a high of $7.89 per person, but never anything approaching $70 per 
person.
  This is a classic case of the Federal Government trying to impose its 
will on a small community and accomplishing nothing in the process.

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