[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 9, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2720-H2726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LONG ISLAND SOUND RESTORATION ACT
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3313) to amend section 119 of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act to reauthorize the program for Long Island Sound, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3313
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Long Island Sound
Restoration Act''.
SEC. 2. NITROGEN CREDIT TRADING SYSTEM AND OTHER MEASURES.
Section 119(c)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act (33 U.S.C. 1269(c)(1)) is amended by inserting ``,
including efforts to establish, within the process for
granting watershed general permits, a system for trading
nitrogen credits and any other measures that are cost-
effective and consistent with the goals of the Plan'' before
the semicolon at the end.
SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES.
Section 119 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33
U.S.C. 1269) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Assistance to Distressed Communities.--
``(1) Eligible communities.--
``(A) States to determine criteria.--For the purposes of
this subsection, a distressed community is any community that
meets affordability criteria established by the State in
which the community is located, if such criteria are
developed after public review and comment.
``(B) Consideration of impact on water and sewer rates.--In
determining if a community is a distressed community for the
purposes
[[Page H2721]]
of this subsection, the State shall consider the extent to
which the rate of growth of a community's tax base has been
historically slow such that implementing the plan described
in subsection (c)(1) would result in a significant increase
in any water or sewer rate charged by the community's
publicly-owned wastewater treatment facility.
``(C) Information to assist states.--The Administrator may
publish information to assist States in establishing
affordability criteria under subparagraph (A).
``(2) Revolving loan funds.--
``(A) Loan subsidies.--Subject to subparagraph (B), any
State making a loan to a distressed community from a
revolving fund under title VI for the purpose of assisting
the implementation of the plan described in subsection (c)(1)
may provide additional subsidization (including forgiveness
of principal).
``(B) Total amount of subsidies.--For each fiscal year, the
total amount of loan subsidies made by a State under
subparagraph (A) may not exceed 30 percent of the amount of
the capitalization grant received by the State for the year.
``(3) Priority.--In making assistance available under this
section for the upgrading of wastewater treatment facilities,
a State may give priority to a distressed community.''.
SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 119(f) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(as redesignated by section 3 of this Act) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``1991 through 2001'' and
inserting ``2000 through 2003''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``not to exceed
$3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 2001''
and inserting ``not to exceed $80,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2000 through 2003''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Borski) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).
General Leave
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on H.R. 3313.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to commend the gentlewoman from
Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson) and her colleagues from the Long Island
Sound area who provided the leadership on this very important
environmental piece of legislation.
This is the Long Island Sound Restoration Act, which is updated and
improves the Long Island Sound program established under the Clean
Water Act.
This is legislation which provides funding for clean water facilities
and as well to control runoff. The Long Island Sound is one of the
estuaries in the National Estuary Program. The Long Island Sound
program was created in part to help carry out the goals of the Sound's
long-term estuary management program. This legislation authorizes
funding for that.
It provides financial relief for distressed communities and
encourages the EPA to support ongoing State efforts in the watershed to
establish a nitrogen trading credit program. It is a market-oriented
program. Low-level dissolved oxygen, caused largely from the high
levels of nitrogen from wastewater treatment plants, is one of the most
significant problems in the Long Island Sound area. This legislation
will help achieve the goals of reducing the nitrogen in the Sound.
H.R. 3313 will also help restore the Long Island Sound's habitat and
improve the water-quality dependent uses so important to the regional
economy.
Mr. Speaker, this is very, very important environmental legislation.
I urge its support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3313, the Long Island Sound
Restoration Act. This legislation would extend the authorization of the
Long Island Sound office under the Clean Water Act through fiscal year
2003 and would increase the authorization for grants to implement the
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the Long Island
watershed to $80 million per year for 4 years.
As stated in the committee report, the construction of projects that
are treatment works as defined in the Clean Water Act will be subject
to section 513 of the act. I want to thank the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Chairman Shuster) and the gentleman from New York
(Chairman Boehlert), our colleagues, for their willingness to address
this critical issue in a positive way.
H.R. 3313 would encourage the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency to use her existing authorities in implementing the
Long Island CCMP to establish a nitrogen credit trading program or any
other measure that is cost-effective and consistent with the goals of
the CCMP.
H.R. 3313 does not alter any existing regulatory authorities under
the Clean Water Act, nor does it provide the Administrator with any new
authorities.
The bill, as amended by the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, would authorize New York and Connecticut to subsidize
loans to distressed communities in the Long Island Sound watershed for
wastewater treatment facilities under the revolving fund program of the
Clean Water Act.
Population growth and economic development have impaired the water
quality of the Sound, contributing to public health and environmental
public problems in the watershed. Investment in wastewater treatment
facilities as called for in the CCMP would lead to significant water
quality improvement.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that all the wastewater treatment works in
the Long Island Sound watershed are in need of improvement soon. This
bill would enhance that effort by providing additional resources and
flexibility.
I support providing additional assistance to address distressed
communities in the region to help finance wastewater infrastructure
improvements and investment to improve water quality. Many of us in the
eastern United States know all too well about declining urban
populations and diminished tax base even as infrastructure needs rise.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the amended bill represents a reasonable
approach to providing additional financial assistance to distressed
communities in the Long Island Sound watershed so that they can better
afford necessary investments in wastewater treatment facilities.
It is modeled after the Safe Drinking Water Amendments of 1996, and
may serve as a national model for the Clean Water Act. At the same
time, the financial integrity and viability of the SFR programs of the
States are not unduly compromised.
Mr. Speaker, I support the bill and urge approval.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), chairman of the Subcommittee on
Water Resources and Environment.
(Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
{time} 1500
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3313, the
Long Island Sound Restoration Act.
First let me thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman
Shuster), and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), and the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski) of the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure for their leadership and cooperation
in moving this important legislation forward.
I made clear right from the outset that this was a legislative
priority of mine, not only in my capacity as chairman of the
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, but as a New Yorker
and one who knows firsthand the value and beauty of the Long Island
Sound. So for me, today's action is particularly gratifying.
I am sure no one is more gratified than the gentlewoman from
Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio),
the bill's primary sponsors. On a bipartisan basis, with 30 of our
colleagues, they have worked tirelessly to advance this legislation and
the cause of restoring and protecting Long Island Sound.
I would also like to recognize the invaluable efforts of Governor
George Pataki of New York and Governor John Rowland of Connecticut and
the many governmental and nongovernmental organizations that have
championed this critically-needed legislation.
[[Page H2722]]
Let me say, Governor Pataki and Governor Rowland came to Washington
to testify before our very committee. I know from firsthand
experiences, my fellow New Yorkers on both sides of the aisle will tell
us Governor Pataki has given this a very high priority. He is proving
by performance that he is a leader on environmental issues, not only
for the State of New York, but nationally. As a matter of fact, in New
York State, through his leadership, we passed a $1.7 billion
environmental bond act. We did it on a bipartisan basis.
Now we are demonstrating that we are willing to put our money where
our mouths are. We are willing to back up our words with deeds under
the leadership of Governor Pataki, and he deserves special commendation
today.
Long Island Sound is approximately 110 miles long and 21 miles across
at its widest point. More than 8 million people live within Long Island
Sound Watershed, which borders both States, New York and Connecticut.
The Long Island Sound, like many estuaries across the U.S., supports
multiple uses and demands. It generates more than $5 billion a year for
the regional economy from boating, swimming, and commercial and sport
fishing, among other activities. It also is home to a multitude of fish
and wildlife species.
However, the Sound can no longer support these multiple economic and
environmental uses and demands. Increasing population growth and
development have led to water quality problems arising from increased
nonpoint source pollution from storm water and agricultural runoff,
wastewater discharges with high nitrogen levels, industrial pollution,
and commercial and recreational waste.
In fact, an estimated $1 billion would be needed over the next 20
years to address the environmental and public health problems in the
Sound. This is an important start. This is a demonstration of the Green
Team in action again, and we see it on the floor here. Very dedicated
Members of Congress support it by very able and very professional staff
people who all have the privilege of working for the most productive
committee in the House of Representatives in the people's House.
This is legislation I proudly identify with. Once again, I say to all
of my colleagues, this is something that has earned our support for all
the right reasons.
Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Forbes), and I note the gentleman's hard work to improve the
water quality of the Long Island Sound.
(Mr. FORBES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Chairman Shuster) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr.
Oberstar), the ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and of course the gentleman from New York (Chairman
Boehlert) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski), ranking
member, for their leadership.
This bill on the floor today is a bill that enjoys strong bipartisan
support, as it should. The Long Island Sound Restoration Act is
critically needed. As one of the sponsors of this important
legislation, I can tell my colleagues that we have long overdue the
need for the Long Island Sound study and the proper implementation of
the comprehensive conservation and management plan for Long Island
Sound.
As we heard from the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), over the
next decade, we are going to need upwards of $1 billion to restore the
ecological health of Long Island Sound. As a member of the House
Committee on Appropriations, I can assure my colleagues that I will be
working with my colleagues from Connecticut and New York to ensure that
we have the kind of funding that will make this critical estuary
healthy once again.
Last fall, the Long Island Sound fell victim to some kind of a
disease that really struck our lobster industry, and we saw a
tremendous die-off of the lobster crop in Long Island Sound to the
detriment of so many families on Long Island. Thanks to the efforts of
the New York and Connecticut delegation, the Secretary of Commerce, Mr.
Daley, declared a commercial fishery failure in January of this year.
Restoring the Sound to its critical health, the marine life so
important to this estuary is critically important to all of us and
certainly, important to our fishing families.
Underscoring the need to restore Long Island Sound is important, but
equally important is the need to stop the Nation's largest polluter;
and that is the Federal Government. The Federal Government continues to
poison Long Island Sound with its dredge spoils.
What was reported out of the committee also unanimously was the Long
Island Sound Protection Act, a measure that I authored, which I believe
should go hand in hand with the measure on the floor. It would amend
the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 to make sure
that the Federal Government is held to the same standards that we
require of the private sector when dumping dredge spoils into Long
Island Sound. Frankly, it reiterates something that was put into law
back in 1980 by the late Jerome Anbrow, Democrat from Huntington.
This important legislation would end what we have seen for the last
several decades, the Federal Government dumping poison sludge back into
Long Island Sound. We are too sophisticated as a Nation today to allow
this kind of egregious behavior to continue. So I lament the fact that
we are not adding this amendment, this important protection for Long
Island Sound, to this critically important legislation. I do applaud
the committee for its bipartisan support of this legislation. It is
long overdue.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the
distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).
Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) very much for yielding me his time. I
appreciate the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Boehlert), the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr.
Oberstar), and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski) for their
help in getting committee approval of H.R. 3313, the Long Island Sound
Restoration Act, legislation both the Connecticut and New York
delegations have worked hard together to bring to the floor.
I also want to thank Governor Rowland of Connecticut and the
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection for working closely
with me, not only to achieve the worthy goals of this bill, but to do
so in a way that small communities, distressed small towns can handle
without unfair economic hardship.
Long Island Sound was one of the original 11 estuaries designated a
national estuary under our Federal estuary program. Consistent with the
requirements, New York and Connecticut, with the guidance from the EPA,
developed a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan which
dictates the steps each State must take to end pollution of the Sound.
The plan addresses six core areas: hypoxia, or lack of oxygen in the
water caused by high levels of nitrogen; nonpoint source pollutants;
toxics in the water; floating debris; pathogens and land use or habitat
protection.
Just Connecticut will spend between $600 million and $900 million
over the next 20 years to clean up the 85 water treatment plants, the
primary solution to hypoxia. These multimillion dollar costs will be
paid by our towns and cities through a combination of grants from the
State and local tax dollars that will repay loans from the revolving
loan funds. While the grants are generous, totalling 30 percent of each
town's expenses, the 70 percent of loans can impose an overwhelming
burden on small communities and tax-strapped cities.
For instance, the town of Winsted, Connecticut has a cumulative debt
of $15 million as a result of upgrades to both their water treatment,
their drinking water, and wastewater treatment plants. Winsted's 2,500
customers face a daunting task in repaying the $15 million. They simply
cannot afford any additional debt to fund the cost of nitrogen control
equipment.
The Mattabassett District is the regional sewer authority for New
Britain, Cromwell and Berlin, Connecticut and
[[Page H2723]]
serves 102,000 residents. This district estimates that it will have to
raise rates by well over 100 percent in order to install the required
nitrogen removal equipment. This area of the State, once a
manufacturing hub of the Northeast, has seen its tax base collapse in
the last two decades and has been slow to share in the current economic
boom. A doubling of water rates would be devastating to economic
development efforts just taking hold in these towns and to their tax-
paying residents.
Some may argue that Long Island Sound is not a national problem and
should be handled by those States most affected. But 10 percent of
America's population lives within the Long Island Sound Watershed. It
is one of the most populated, visited and traveled areas of the
country.
The Sound contributes $5 billion annually to the regional economy.
And the ports of Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London--each in
Connecticut--handle incoming freight from national and international
sources. Much of the northeast's heating oil comes in through these
ports; over 12 million tons of petroleum products passed through in
1997.
I will not go through the details of what it contributes to our
economy. But more than 12 million tons of petroleum come through its
ports. The Port of New Haven alone handles 622,000 tons of steel in
1997, making it the fourth largest port of entry for steel products
into the United States after New Orleans, Houston, and Philadelphia.
The New London port is one of the chief ports for lumber exports and
home to Groton Naval Shipyard.
Further, in 1998, New York and Connecticut caught $23.8 million worth
of clams and oysters. In other words, if people aren't enjoying the
Sound for its recreational opportunities, they are using the products
that come in through its ports or consuming the seafood from its
waters.
In other words, if people are enjoying the Sound for its recreational
opportunities, they are using it, the products that come in through its
ports or consuming the seafood from its waters.
In sum, the Sound is clearly a body of national, economic, and
environmental significance and calls for a nationwide commitment to its
restoration.
As the Federal Government has provided help to implement other
States' plans to save their estuaries, harbors, and lakes, so New York
and Connecticut need help. Boston Harbor received $840 million to
construct Deer Island Water Treatment Facility and clean their harbor.
The Great Lakes has received $13 million a year since 1991. The
Chesapeake Bay has received nearly $20 million a year since 1991. Long
Island Sound is important to our Nation. It is as important to these
other bodies of water and deserves our national efforts.
But New York and Connecticut are not just looking for Federal help,
they are looking for a Federal partnership. Consistent with its
responsibility to that partnership, Connecticut has developed a plan
for reducing the overall cost of the cleanup. Connecticut estimates
that their water treatment upgrades could cost up to $900 million over
the next 20 years, but with this trading program will cost considerably
less, probably $200 million to $300 million less.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of my colleagues of this very
important legislation to preserve one of the Nation's real gems.
My legislation will allow Connecticut and New York to develop a
nitrogen trading program to fulfill their obligations under the CCMP.
The entire state must still meet the same nitrogen levels, but the
trading program will help small communities who contribute very little
pollution do their part to clean up the Sound.
In addition to authorizing a trading program and increasing the
authorization level for the Long Island Sound office, my legislation
will provide states with the option to give additional help to low
income, distressed communities which have slow growth tax bases and
would be unable to sustain significant increases in water rates. These
communities would be eligible for grant money as well as negative
interest loans.
Nothing is more important than bequeathing to our children a clean,
healthy environment. With this bill we take a giant step toward the
restoration of a real jewel, Long Island Sound.
Again, I thank the Chairman, Mr. Boehlert and Mr. Shuster for their
support and assistance in developing this bill and urge its passage by
the House.
Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro). I thank the gentlewoman for her work in
several sessions of the Congress to try to improve the viability and
well-being of Long Island Sound.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania
very much for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Long Island Sound
Restoration Act. I have labored long and hard to try to see that we do
clean up the Long Island Sound. It is critical to our environment and
to our economy. It is one of the most complex estuaries in the country.
It is located in a densely populated area. More than 8 million people
live in the 16,000 square miles of watershed. Millions more flock to it
for recreation. In fact, 10 percent of the U.S. population lives within
50 miles of the Long Island Sound.
It brings in more than $5 billion annually to the regional economy
from activities like fishing, recreational, boating, swimming, and
beachgoing, all of which require clean water.
The bill we consider today is a sensible approach to a problem that
has plagued our community and its efforts to clean up the Long Island
Sound for over a decade; that is the fact there are no reliable steady
funding sources for implementing the Sound's Comprehensive Conservation
Management Plan, which we developed in 1994 to protect the Sound.
This bill increases the authorized level we can spend on the Sound to
$80 million a year for 4 years. It is a good first step. It is timely,
because we need a dedicated increased funding source in order to be
able to finally roll up our sleeves and to get the job done. It allows
for a much-needed investment in clean water treatment facilities,
provides a flexible approach for communities all around the watershed
to reduce the pollution that goes into the Sound.
If one wants to talk to people who know the importance of the Long
Island Sound to the communities and to our economy, take a walk along
the shore with a lobsterman. We are suffering a massive lobster die-off
that has virtually wiped out the lobster population in the Sound. To
date, we do not know what has caused the die-off, but we do know that a
cleaner Long Island Sound would make incidents like this less likely in
the future.
I am pleased we are considering a bill like this today. I urge my
colleagues to support the bill and help us clean up this treasure, our
treasured Long Island Sound.
{time} 1515
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Lazio).
Mr. LAZIO. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me thank the chairman of
the full committee, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), for
his accommodation, together with the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr.
Oberstar), in moving this consideration from yesterday, which was
Cardinal O'Connor's funeral, to today to allow some of us to
participate.
I also would like to thank the leader of the Green Team, the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), who is a hero to Long
Islanders, and this is a major initiative on which his help has been
invaluable. I also want to thank the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs.
Johnson), the prime sponsor of this legislation and the leading force,
as well as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman) and the rest of
the New York and Connecticut delegations who joined us in introducing
this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I would like for my colleagues to visualize for a moment
Yellowstone National Park. It is truly one of America's great jewels.
Conservation managers at that park agonize over the impact of 3 million
visitors that come annually to experience its beauty. They worry about
the health of its sensitive ecosystems. They agonize about the stresses
that this population influx puts on the system.
Now, I would like my colleagues to visualize that park with 8 million
people living directly on its borders, with another 15 million living
within 50 miles of it. I do not need to spell out the stresses that
this situation would place on this natural system. I do not need to
detail how the inability of that
[[Page H2724]]
park to meet the needs of our citizens would be degraded. And I do not
need to detail how much this Nation would pay to maintain that jewel
for the enjoyment of all.
Mr. Speaker, the picture I just described is one we are living with
today on the Long Island Sound. This 150-mile-long estuary is one of
America's natural jewels, providing recreational outlets, commercial
fishing, shell fishing, and a vital transportation corridor for the
most heavily populated portion of this Nation. Like Yellowstone, the
Sound is a major asset to the regional economy, generating over $5
billion annually.
A full 10 percent of this Nation's people live on our near this body
of water. To many of these people the Sound is their opportunity to
escape the multitudes, to get in touch with the great outdoors. To
others, the Sound is a livelihood, a way of life. The lonely
lobsterman, who sails out every morning to check his traps, or a
fisherman trying to land that special of the day for a Manhattan
restaurant. To all these Americans, the Sound is increasingly less able
to meet their essential needs.
Pollution problems in the Sound have degraded the recreational
experience. They have reduced the fish and shellfish populations. And
pollution in the Sound has contributed to the 90 percent decline in the
lobster population, which has been this Nation's third largest lobster
fishery. That decline forced Commerce Secretary Daley to declare the
Sound a fishery disaster area.
In a separate action, I and the other New York and Connecticut
Members are now looking for funds to mitigate the economic impact of
the lobster disaster. Like much of our region, nearly the entire Long
Island Sound coastline is developed. We have lost up to 35 percent of
our vegetated wetlands, endangering wildlife and increasing the
potential of flooding. Over a billion gallons of sewage is discharged
daily from our treatment plants, killing our fish and shellfish. As a
result of this ecological stress, many of our bays and harbor bottoms
are contaminated, and health advisories now warn against eating too
much of some of the Sound's fish and waterfowl.
New York and Connecticut recognized this problem and have been
working cooperatively to develop a plan for cleaning up the Sound. This
plan was developed with the support of local environmental groups,
recreational and commercial users of the Sound, and property owners. We
are now ready to implement. We are ready to put up the upgrades we need
to our sewer systems, to construct our runoff diversion ponds, and to
restore our lost habitats.
New York's governor recently announced the funding of $50 million
worth of projects from that plan. Connecticut's governor has also
pledged to put their share of funding forward. The only partner that is
not at the table is the Federal Government. In a role reversal, we now
have States coming to the Congress asking us to cost share with them on
a program of national significance.
The bill before us makes the Federal Government a full partner in
this critical enterprise. It recognizes that cleaning up our pollution
problems is not cheap but that it is a good investment. And this bill
recognizes that we owe the future of the Sound to our children.
I grew up on Long Island and was fortunate to be able to take
advantage of the benefits of its coastal waters. I want my children to
be able to have that same advantage. This bill will give them that
opportunity.
Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from
New York (Mr. Ackerman), an original cosponsor of the bill.
(Mr. ACKERMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time, and I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), as well as the gentlewoman
from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson) for her leadership.
I also want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Lazio), who has done a lot of work on this, and the rest of the Long
Island delegation, the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy), as well as the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Forbes), who has now managed to cosponsor this bill
from both sides of the aisle.
I am proud to represent an area that borders the Long Island Sound.
The Sound is one of our Nation's natural treasures with important
environmental, recreational and commercial benefits. Its value as an
essential habitat for one of the most diverse ecosystems in the
Northeast cannot be understated. Residents and vacationers alike enjoy
the Sound for swimming and boating, and the approximately $5 billion in
revenue generated by commerce relating to the Sound is vital to the
region as well as to individuals who base their livelihood on the
benefits of the Long Island Sound.
Unfortunately, the effects of millions of people on the shore and in
the Sound are evidenced by the deteriorated water quality. Over the
last several years, the Long Island Sound has suffered from numerous
forms of pollution which has caused a dramatic drop in the Sound's fish
population. As a result of the pollution, the Sound's multibillion
dollar a year fishing industry is in jeopardy. The most recent
devastating example that we have heard about is the unexplained and
widespread lobster die-off. We must supply adequate resources to
address this crisis and to examine possible problems in the water that
could have caused the crisis.
Preservation of the Long Island Sound is not a parochial issue but a
national one. Its inclusion as a charter member in the National
Estuaries Program, the Sound has been designated as one of only 28
estuaries of national significance. The time to act is now. When I
first introduced this legislation by this name in 1992, and again in
every subsequent Congress, the price tag was $50 million. Now it is $80
million. It will not get cheaper if we wait any longer.
I am pleased to say and to note that both the States of New York and
Connecticut are prepared to match the $80 million authorization with
State funds, and I am confident that these funds will have a
significant impact on the ongoing efforts to improve the quality of the
Sound. We must do everything possible to ensure the continued funding
of these efforts, and this legislation is the appropriate means for
achieving the desired end. I urge all of our colleagues to join with us
in supporting this legislation.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Shays).
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Long Island Sound
Restoration Act, and again thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Shuster) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) for their work
in getting this bill out of committee. I also wish to thank Governors
Rowland and Pataki and the respective Departments of Environmental
Protection from both Connecticut and New York, and to thank as well my
co-chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, the gentlewoman from New York
(Mrs. Lowey), and the members of the caucus, as well as in particular
the primary sponsors, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson)
and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio).
Mr. Speaker, I would like to read what a number of very significant
organizations have had to say about this bill. The first quote:
This is the most significant congressional action for Long
Island Sound since it was designated a national estuary in
1985. It is critical this bill pass the House of
Representatives to ensure the Federal Government is a true
partner in the restoration of Long Island Sound.
--David Miller, Executive Director, National Audubon Society of New
York.
Cleaning up the water quality of Long Island Sound is
critical to a comprehensive approach to restoring this
fabulous resource to its full potential as a natural
resource.
--David Sutherland, Director of Government Relations, the Connecticut
chapter of the Nature Conservancy.
This bill garnered widespread support across party lines. I
think this sends a clear message to voters that the
environment does matter and that both parties can work
together to help preserve our environment.
--Deb Callahan, President, League of Conservation Voters.
[[Page H2725]]
Nitrogen pollution in the Long Island Sound is a relatively
recent discovery and quite literally a deadly problem. For
many years gross pollution masked the damage being done by
excess nitrogen. Thanks to Congress' efforts and construction
grants and State revolving funds of the 1970s and 1980s, we
have been able to make great progress only to find an
underlying problem of great environmental and financial
magnitude.
--Terry Backer, Soundkeeper, supporting this bill.
It is critical to Long Island Sound, our region's greatest
natural resource, that the Federal Government increase its
recognition of the need to improve this water body by making
an increased financial commitment. It is critical to future
generations that this water body be returned to a flourishing
ecosystem of flora and fauna.
--John Atkins, President of Save the Sound.
And, finally,
Local and State governments have made enormous investments
in sewage treatment and pollution control facilities, but the
problems are much more regional in scope and therefore beg
Federal involvement. Any plan which places the entire fiscal
burden of cleanup on the most vulnerable level of government,
local authorities, is destined for environmental and economic
failure. That is why we support H.R. 3313.
--Ross Pepe, President, Construction Industry Council of Westchester
and Hudson Valley, a professional employers association representing
more than 550 companies and some 50,000 workers.
We will not have a world to live in if we continue our neglectful
ways, and passage of this bill makes clear we are no longer being
neglectful.
Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson).
Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman of the
committee, who has always been so responsive to the needs of our States
and other Members, and the ranking Democrats involved in this effort
for Connecticut.
This is an important effort, but it is a national effort. Almost 30
million American citizens live within a short distance of Long Island
Sound. It is an important economic asset. We have obviously had
challenges in the last several years. The lobstermen, in particular, as
has been noted by a number of my colleagues, have had a very
significant impact and a decreased number of lobsters out there. We
need to address these issues. It is an important economic asset and an
environmental asset.
From kayaking to commercial fishing to sports fishermen, who really
play, I think, the most significant role in many ways of helping the
economy of the region and increasing the quality of life, it is an
important national asset and it is appropriate that we are taking this
action today.
One need only drive along the coast from New York and go through the
fishing villages of Stonington and Mystic to see the kind of diversity
of activity along the shore. We need to take these actions for this
generation but also for future generations to make sure that we leave
this body of water in better shape than we found it when we took over
the stewardship of Long Island Sound.
Again, I would like to thank the chairman and the ranking member for
their support and urge passage of the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, as an original co-sponsor of H.R. 3313, I rise in strong
support of this measure. I would like to begin by thanking Chairmen
Shuster and Boehlert and ranking Members Oberstar and Borski and their
staffs for their support in moving this legislation through the
Committee process. I truly appreciate their efforts.
The bill before us today reauthorizes activities of the Environmental
Protection Agency's Long Island Sound Program Office for four years. It
also authorizes $80 million annually to help implement the
comprehensive conservation and management plan approved for the Long
Island Sound under the National Estuary Program. It also allows New
York and Connecticut to provide grants from their state clean water
revolving funds for the upgrade of wastewater treatment facilities in
small communities that can ill-afford the cost of the necessary
procedure.
The Long Island Sound is one on the 28 designated estuaries in
National Estuary Program. As one of the eleven original estuaries
designated in 1987, it is recognized as a significant national resource
making its health a top priority for not only Connecticut and New York,
but the country as a whole. Ten percent of the American population
lives within 50 miles of the Sound. It is a source of recreation for
vacationers, fishermen, and boaters as well as a key commercial water
way for trade and commerce, providing over $5 billion to the regional
economy.
I believe the increase in funding is reasonable. It would provide the
necessary funds to allow Connecticut and New York to implement the
goals of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the
Long Island Sound. By providing grants to distressed communities to
assist them in upgrading wastewater treatment plants, the facilities
would be better equipped to reduced the amount of nitrogen released
into the Sound.
The high levels of nitrogen have depleted the supply of oxygen in the
water--a phenomenon known as hypoxia or low dissolved oxygen. The
nitrogen, which comes from a variety of sources including treatment
facilities and run-off from lawns and fields, promotes the growth of
algae by over-fertilization. Subsequently, the plants die, sinking to
the bottom and decaying, using up the little oxygen there is. Too
little oxygen can stunt the development or kill marine species like
lobsters, slow moving species and finfish and flounder while also
affecting their resistance to disease.
Recently, there has been a massive lobster die-off in the Sound. The
lobster population has been in serious decline for the last year.
Landings in Connecticut in December 1998 totaled 442,888 pounds while
December 1999 landings were a mere 2,892 pounds. Initial findings
indicate the presence of a parasite; however, there is still much
research to be done. The need for research dollars is great making the
funding provided within this legislation a significant step in the
right direction.
The Long Island Sound is a nationally significant resource which
deserves continued federal support. Passing this legislation today will
allow the states of Connecticut and New York to continue their efforts
to clean up the Sound and restore a healthy habitat for not only the
wildlife that live in and around the Sound, but our constituents as
well. The health of the Sound is crucial to our quality of life and
economic well-being.
I urge my colleagues would join me in supporting H.R. 3313.
Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
New York (Mrs. Lowey).
Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank our ranking member and the chairman
for their support of this important bill, and I rise in strong support
of H.R. 3313, the Long Island Sound Restoration Act.
As the co-chair of the Long Island Sound Congressional Caucus, I am
especially proud to stand here today in support of a bill that
reaffirms our commitment to Long Island Sound. Protecting our fragile
waterways and coastal environments is essential, and the bill we are
considering today will strengthen our efforts to preserve Long Island
Sound.
Long Island Sound is a national treasure, but this extraordinary
environmental economic and recreational asset has been damaged by years
of pollution and neglect. It is absolutely crucial to expand the
Federal Government's role in controlling pollution and in stewarding
our coastal resources throughout the Sound.
One of my proudest achievements since coming to Congress was working
to establish the Environmental Protection Agency's Long Island Sound
office in 1991, which coordinates the implementation of the Sound's
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. The Plan is working to
bring the Sound back to life again. But we need to do much more.
EPA estimates that simply meeting the appalling backlog of water
quality infrastructure upgrades nationwide will cost $140 billion over
the next 20 years. And the amount needed to address the health and
environmental concerns around Long Island Sound alone over the next two
decades is $1 billion. This critical legislation supports these efforts
by significantly increasing authorization levels for the Long Island
Sound office and targets these important resources towards
implementation of the Sound's cleanup plan.
The Long Island Sound Restoration Act is another important tool in
our arsenal to expand the Federal Government's role in restoring Long
Island Sound, and I urge my colleagues to support this fragile resource
by voting for H.R. 3313.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3313, the Long
Island Sound Restoration Act.
The Long Island Sound is a unique, urban watershed nestled among one
of the most densely populated regions of this country. Like
[[Page H2726]]
many of the salt-water estuaries along the coast of the United States,
the Long Island Sound supports a variety of uses and demands, including
providing vital habitat to numerous fish and wildlife species, as well
as recreational and commercial activities.
However, increasing pressures from residential, industrial, and
agricultural development have dramatically altered the natural
conditions of this region, and have increased the discharge of
pollutants into the Sound.
In 1987, upon the realization that additional efforts were needed to
protect our Nation's salt-water estuaries, Congress authorized the
establishment of the National Estuaries Program (NEP), within EPA, to
restore and protect these resources. The Long Island Sound was one of
the original waterbodies to be designated as an Estuary of National
Significance under the NEP.
The Management Conference convened to develop a Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the Long Island Sound
identified several issues meriting special attention, including low
oxygen conditions due to excessive nutrient loading, toxic and pathogen
contamination, and the degradation and loss of marine habitat. Of these
concerns, hypoxia, caused by excessive discharges of nitrogen from both
point and non-point sources, was identified as the priority problem.
In 1990, Congress recognized that additional resources were needed to
realize improvements in the Sound, and created a new office within the
Environmental Protection Agency to assist in achieving these
improvements. The Long Island Sound Program Office has been charged
with assisting and supporting the implementation of the Long Island
Sound CCMP.
The legislation we are considering today, H.R. 3313, extends the
reauthorization of this office, as well as make additional changes
aimed at achieving greater improvements to the Sound watershed.
The bill, as amended by the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, reauthorizes the Long Island Sound Program Office
through 2003, and authorizes $80 million per year through 2003 in
grants for projects and studies which will help implement the CCMP.
In addition, this legislation encourages the Administrator of EPA,
through the Long Island Sound Program Office, to use existing
regulatory authorities to implement the CCMP, including efforts to
establish, within the process for granting watershed general permits, a
system for trading nitrogen credits and any other measures that are
cost-effective and consistent with the goals of the CCMP.
It is important to note that this legislation does not expand the
authorities of the EPA with respect to pollution credit trading; it
merely encourages the Administrator to use existing authorities to
achieve water quality goals within the Sound.
Finally, H.R. 3313 provides enhanced assistance to distressed
communities within the Long Island Sound basin for repayment of
construction loans under the Clean Water Act.
This legislation grants the Administrator authority to provide
additional loan subsidization, including principal forgiveness, to
distressed communities within the Sound. Principal forgiveness provides
significant assistance to distressed communities in the repayment of
construction loans without the unintended consequence of significantly
diminishing the corpus of State Revolving Loan funds.
I support this bill and urge its approval.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3313, the Long Island Sound
Restoration Act.
I congratulate Representative Nancy Johnson for crafting this bi-
partisan legislation that represents an excellent step in the right
direction towards cleaning up and maintaining the water quality of Long
Island Sound.
A great many of my constituents benefit from this water body--whether
it be vacationing on her beautiful beaches, working on her shores or
eating the fish products caught in the Sound. Long Island Sound is a
vital lifeline for the people of my district and of the whole tri-state
area.
Unfortunately, with the population explosion along the shores of Long
Island Sound, new threats are appearing.
This legislation will increase the funding for the Long Island Sound
Office by $77 million. Additionally, this legislation will address the
efforts to reduce nitrogen discharges into the Sound and authorizes the
surrounding states to provide additional subsidies to designated
distressed communities from a state's clean water fund.
Finally, this legislation will not hinder the environmentally
important dredging efforts occurring in communities surrounding Long
Island Sound. In my district, dredging operations have vastly improved
both the economic as well as the environmental climate in a number of
communities.
As a deliberative body, we must ensure that important dredging
projects, such as ones occurring in Flushing Bay and New York Harbor
continue unencumbered.
I urge my colleagues to support this valuable, environmental
legislation.
{time} 1530
Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3313, as amended.
The question was taken.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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