[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 158 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14562-S14563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JEFFORDS (for himself, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. 
        Schumer, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Burns, and Mr. Reid):
  S. 1915. A bill to enhance the services provided by the Environmental 
Protection Agency to small communities that are attempting to comply 
with national, State, and local environmental regulations; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.


                 small committee assistance act of 1999

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, for years small communities across the 
United States have labored to meet environmental regulations written 
for major cities. They have struggled unduly with complicated 
regulations designed for Chicago or Los Angeles. Today I am introducing 
legislation designed to end this problem: the Small Community 
Assistance Act of 1999.
  We who live in small towns such as my home town of Shrewsbury, 
Vermont are proud of our community and our environment. We want to 
comply with reasonable health and environmental standards in order to 
leave a healthy legacy for our children. But we do not have the staff 
or financial capacity of larger communities to respond to far-reaching 
regulations. We are concerned about standards written without 
consideration for the special circumstances small towns in America 
face. While we recognize the importance of environmental regulations in 
safeguarding our air and water, we need the ability to respond 
intelligently to local priorities and needs. We want to comply with 
environmental regulations, but we need some flexibility in order to 
comply in a reasonable manner. We do not want preferential treatment, 
we want treatment that recognizes our unique size and fiscal situation.
  In 1991, I authored the Small Town Environmental Planning Act. This 
act passed overwhelmingly in the House and Senate and was signed into 
law by President Bush in 1992. This act mandated that the Environmental 
Protection Agency give more assistance to small towns. It created a 
task force comprised of representatives from small communities across 
the nation. These small town representatives developed a list of ways 
in which the EPA can better help small towns enjoy and maintain a 
healthy environment.
  It is now time to take their advice. The Small Community Assistance 
Act of 1999 will give much needed assistance to small towns and 
communities in Vermont and across the nation. This bill will give small 
communities more input into the regulatory review process, clearer and 
simpler environmental guidelines, and more assistance in meeting 
environmental obligations.
  This legislation acts on the recommendations of people from small 
communities throughout the United Stats. Small community members 
provided the impetus for this bill, helped write the bill itself, and 
provided numerous helpful comments. To these small community members I 
offer my sincere appreciation. I would especially like to thank the 
members of EPA's Small Community Advisory Subcommittee for all of their 
help, and I thank the committee for its unanimous endorsement of this 
bill.
  I would like to thank the original cosponsors of this bill, Senators 
Crapo, Murkowski, Schumer, Harkin, Bryan, Burns, and Reid. Their 
leadership on this bill underscores their dedication to helping people 
in our small towns. I urge every one of my colleagues to cosponsor this 
bill. Together, we can improve the quality of life and further 
environmental protections in our small communities nationwide.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am pleased to join today with a 
geographically and politically diverse group of Senators to introduce 
the Small Community Assistance Act of 1999. I commend Senator Jeffords 
for investing his time and energy in developing this important 
legislation. This Small Community Assistance Act will help ensure that 
small towns all across America are included in a combined local, state, 
and national effort to protect the environment.
  This bill would help increase communications and cooperation between 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and smaller communities. By 
establishing a Small Town Ombudsman Office in each of EPA's regions, 
this bill will ensure that communities with less than 7500 residents 
have improved access to the technical expertise and information that 
are necessary for small towns to cost effectively protect the quality 
of their air and water and their citizens' health.
  By incorporating the perspectives of a Small Community Advisory 
Committee early in the development of EPA's environmental policies, 
this bill will improve the working relationship between small towns and 
EPA and ultimately strengthen environmental protection.
  The Small Community Advisory Committee will build on the valuable 
work already done by EPA's Small Community Task Force, which includes 
representatives of towns, governmental agencies, and public interest 
groups from across the country. Cherie Aiazzi of Carlin, a town of 
about 2800 people in northern Nevada, contributed

[[Page S14563]]

her time, insight and creativity to this task force and I know that 
perspectives of rural towns across the country are better understood as 
a result of her efforts.
  By coincidence of history and geography Nevada is a state with more 
small towns than big cities. In our efforts to enhance the quality of 
life for all Nevadans, it is crucial that small communities play an 
important role in the development and achievement of our environmental 
goals. The Small Community Assistance Act of 1999 provides an valuable 
opportunity for small towns to contribute to and benefit from this 
important effort.
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