[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 27, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H5174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   MOVE FORWARD WITH BROWNFIELDS LEGISLATION AND CLEAN UP COMMUNITIES

  (Mr. GARY MILLER of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GARY MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, there are almost half a 
million pieces of property in the United States that are polluted and 
useless because people are afraid to buy them to clean them up.
  We have seen these properties. Many of them are fenced with chain-
link or have signs that say ``hazardous material, keep out.'' The 
problem with that is individuals will not buy these properties, because 
when they do, they accept the historical problems that go along with 
that, and they accept the liability with EPA and likely to be sued 
because of that.
  We need to change the law. We need to say that individuals and 
businesses can buy these properties and clean them up and put them to a 
useful purpose without being concerned about EPA taking them to court 
and suing them because pollution occurred 40 years ago.
  We have done nothing on this. We need to move forward rapidly with 
Brownfields legislation and help clean up our communities throughout 
the United States and help put these properties that are polluted, that 
are continuing to pollute our environment to a good purpose.

                          ____________________