[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 8, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S9994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           REMEDIATION WASTE

 Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise to make a few remarks 
regarding efforts to amend the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
as it relates to remediation waste. The Majority Leader and the Chair 
of the Environment and Public Works Committee recently concluded that 
there is not enough time to complete legislation in this area this 
Congress, due to the press of other business and the limited time 
remaining.
  I would like to commend both the process and the progress that has 
been made this year in discussions concerning remediation waste 
legislation. I also would like to commend Senators Lott, Chafee, Smith, 
Lautenberg and Breaux for their roles in this process. I believe that 
the RCRA hazardous waste cleanup program could be improved through 
responsible reforms that tailor certain provisions of RCRA to hazardous 
waste that is generated during cleanup. Targeted amendments in this 
area could promote cleanup, ensure meaningful opportunities for 
community involvement, and reduce cleanup costs, without sacrificing 
protection of human health and the environment. Republican and 
Democratic staff of the Environment and Public Works Committee, 
together with representatives of the Administration, have for several 
months been engaged in productive, bi-partisan negotiations to reach 
agreement on targeted RCRA amendments in this important area. Despite 
these efforts, there are still a number of issues yet to be resolved, 
which I had hoped we would resolve in the time remaining this Congress.
  The Administration contributed significantly to the progress made 
this year. We also received valuable input from representatives of 
various interests that would be affected by the legislation, including 
industry, the environmental community, state and local governments and 
communities in the vicinity of hazardous waste cleanup sites. We need 
to continue close coordination with a range of interested persons.
  I hope that next year we can resume this bi-partisan process. This 
year's work creates a foundation for efforts next year to achieve 
responsible reform.

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