[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 24, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED

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                  LEAD EXPOSURE REDUCTION ACT OF 1994

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                NICKLES (AND SIMPSON) AMENDMENT NO. 1744

  Mr. SMITH (for Mr. Nickles for himself and Mr. Simpson) proposed an 
amendment to the bill (S. 729) to amend the Toxic Substances Control 
Act to reduce the levels of lead in the environment, and for other 
purposes; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in the bill, insert the following 
     new section--

     ``SECTION   . SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING LEAD FISHING 
                   SINKERS.

       ``(a) Findings.--
       ``(1) on March 9, 1994 the EPA promulgated a rule to ban 
     the manufacture and sale of lead, zinc, and brass fishing 
     sinkers,
       ``(2) the proposed rule was developed in response to a 
     Toxic Substances Control Act petition requesting that EPA 
     label, not ban, lead fishing sinkers,
       ``(3) EPA states in the proposed rule, `In addition, an 
     accurate number of waterbirds that could receive a lethal 
     dose of lead or zinc from fishing sinkers, or the probability 
     of consuming a lethal dose, cannot be estimated,'
       ``(4) no one has studied the effectiveness of fishing 
     sinkers manufactured from lead-substitute materials which can 
     cost eight to ten times as much and have physical or chemical 
     limitations,
       ``(5) a ban on lead fishing sinkers would put small fishing 
     tackle manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage to major 
     fishing tackle manufactures who can afford to retool and 
     produce fishing sinkers with lead-substitute materials,
       ``(6) a ban on home manufacturing of lead fishing sinkers 
     would affect up to 1.6 million anglers who make their own 
     sinkers in basements and garages, and
       ``(7) EPA has commented that a ban on lead fishing sinkers 
     could eventually be expanded to all lead-containing fishing 
     tackle, including lures.
       ``(b) Therefore, it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     Administrator should finalize no rule or regulation which 
     requires a nationwide prohibition of the manufacture, sale, 
     or use of fishing sinkers, jigs, or lures containing lead, 
     brass, or zinc, until such time as the Administrator gives 
     priority consideration to alternative means of reducing the 
     risk to waterfowl from lead fishing sinkers, including 
     labeling, public education, and state or regional limits.''

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