[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1678-E1679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce the 
Environmental Restoration Act of 2005. I am joined in the introduction 
by Representatives Murtha, English, Hart and Peterson of Pennsylvania.
  It is fitting that this bill be introduced on the same day that the 
House will pass comprehensive energy policy legislation. This bill has 
the dual benefit of cleaning up a terrible environmental and health 
situation at the same time that it increases our energy independence.

[[Page E1679]]

  The Environmental Restoration Act of 2005 creates incentives for the 
cleanup of dangerous and unsightly waste coal, or gob, piles by 
utilizing the waste coal as a domestic energy source. The bill provides 
transferable tax credits for the clean and safe burning of waste coal 
as fuel for power generation. The bill will result in the creation of 
jobs, enhanced energy security, recycled energy recovery from waste 
coal, and restoration of blighted areas back to productive use.
  I want to highlight the environmental benefits of the legislation. 
This bill will produce electricity with a recycled waste energy 
resource. It will help clean up abandoned gob piles. There is over one 
billion tons of waste coal available on the ground today. Land will be 
restored to green space or productive use. Stream quality will be 
improved by eliminating sedimentation and acid mine drainage. 
Electricity will be produced with emissions lower than regulatory 
requirements. Finally, the need and number of refuse disposal 
facilities will be reduced.
  The bill applies to existing as well as planned and future waste coal 
processing facilities. Today such facilities exist not only in my State 
of Pennsylvania, but in Utah, West Virginia and Montana. I hope to see 
more of these efficient plants developed.
  I want to give an example of one of the Pennsylvania facilities that 
would qualify for credits under my bill--the Beech Hollow Power Project 
in Washington, Pennsylvania. Beech Hollow is a waste coal-fired power 
generation facility located in Robinson Township. The project is 
constructed on a 38-acre site immediately adjacent to a gob pile. The 
power generated will be transmitted via an interconnection with a 
transmission line owned by West Penn Power. The project has strong 
state and local support. There is a 17-year supply of waste fuel for 
this plant.
  Beech Hollow has received all of its state and federal clean air act 
permits, with the strong support of the Pennsylvania Department of 
Environmental Protection. By using clean coal technology the plant and 
will exceed federal emission standards.
  Beech Hollow will produce 252,000 kilowatts of net electrical power, 
derived from clean energy. This will be enough power to supply about 
240,000 homes. In addition to the significant environmental benefits 
associated with the removal of this large source of groundwater 
contamination, the Beech Hollow Project will also have significant and 
diverse positive economic impacts throughout the local community. For 
instance, between construction and operation, it is estimated that the 
project will generate a total of 7,906 full-time equivalent job years 
of employment in Pennsylvania.
  In the spirit of comprehensive energy policy and energy independence, 
I urge my colleagues to take a close look at this legislation. It is a 
prime example of how environmental protection and domestic energy use 
can go hand in hand.

                          ____________________