[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE ACT OF 1995

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                               speech of

                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 1996

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant support of this bill. 
While I would have preferred a stronger affirmation of local 
government's right and responsibility to direct the collection and 
disposal of its solid waste, this bill makes much needed clarification 
of the conditions under which flow control authority can be exercised, 
both now and in the future. Also, this measure is an admirable attempt 
to strike a balance between promoting competition between solid waste 
management facilities, and protecting communities, facility owners, and 
operators who have built facilities on the assumption that they would 
have a revenue base to finance those facilities.
  However, it is not without reservations that I offer my support. 
Although the bill does grandfather flow control authority for county 
governments in Washington State that have invested millions of dollars 
into developing and integrating their disposal systems, the bill does 
not grandfather flow control authority exercised by the city of Seattle 
on behalf of my constituents.
  It was the city of Seattle's ability to exercise flow control 
authority over commercial garbage, and its ability to direct contract-
collected residential garbage to a designated facility, that made it 
possible for the city to procure a low-cost long-haul disposal contract 
in 1989. Simply put, the city's ability to guarantee a large volume of 
waste to the winning bidder made it possible for the bidders to offer 
the city the huge financial benefits of economies of scale in providing 
disposal services.
  The ability of the city of Seattle and other jurisdictions who 
exercise flow control and use competitive contracting to get the best 
deal for their citizens should be protected under any flow control 
bill. Unfortunately, this bill does not.
  While I am supporting this bill at this time, I am reserving judgment 
on the final bill that emerges from House and Senate negotiations. I 
hope to work with the committee to craft a final bill that better 
protects the citizens of Seattle and the nationally recognized solid 
waste management system the city has created.

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