[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 111 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3816, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

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                               speech of

                        HON. WILLIAM J. MARTINI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3816) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Chairman, I wish to thank all of the committee 
members who worked tirelessly to put together a fair and economically 
responsible energy and water development appropriations bill.
  This bill has carefully balanced the interests of environmentalists 
with those in the business community. It provides the language that 
will enable our ports to once again flourish, our citizens to be 
protected from flooding, our environment to be preserved, and our 
taxpayers' dollars to be wisely and not frivolously spent.
  I would like to specifically mention three provisions in the bill 
that are of great importance to the citizens in my district.
  First, this bill includes funding for the cleanup of the thorium site 
in Wayne, NJ, which has been a concern to that community. The removal 
of the thorium-contaminated soil from the Wayne interim site is an 
issue of great concern to me. After the election in 1994, I traveled to 
Wayne to discuss the removal of the tainted soil with Mayor David Waks.
  On July 20, 1995, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that 
Envirocare would be awarded a $16 million contract to remove, 
transport, and store the soil in their Utah facility. In October, 
Envirocare began the removal process of the contaminated soil. This 
process can continue thanks to the increased funding in today's 
measure.
  Second, this bill provides funding for a buyout alternative to the 
Passaic River flood tunnel,which protects wetlands while providing 
critical flood protection to my constitutents. Back in 1994 when I was 
first running for Congress, I recognized the importance of flood 
protection to the citizens of the Eighth Congressional District in New 
Jersey. In addition, I recognized that there must be a more 
economically and environmentally sound flood control alternative to the 
proposed flood tunnel. That project had a price tag of $1.9 billion and 
would have had extensive negative affects on area wetlands and the 
existing ecosystems.
  By providing for a buyout of certain wetlands, we are taking great 
strides toward both flood protection for our citizens and environmental 
protection for the Passaic River, while saving the taxpayer money.
  Lastly, the bill provides funding for the continued construction of 
the Molly Ann's Brook flood control project, which affects residents 
from Paterson, Haledon, and North Haledon, NJ. I am pleased that the 
committee continued to treat this project with the urgency and priority 
that it deserves.
  Once again, I extend my thanks to the committee. This bill is clear 
example of the 104th Congress making things happen and protecting the 
interests of not only the citizens of New Jersey, but the interests of 
all Americans.

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