[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 163 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COAL COMBUSTION RESIDUALS IN THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT

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                         HON. DAVID B. McKINLEY

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2016

  Mr. McKINLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to include 
language relating to coal combustion residuals regulation in a final 
agreement with the Senate on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 
of 2016.
   The House bill, H.R. 5303, took a positive step by providing funding 
for important projects and investments in our ports, channels, locks 
and dams that will continue to support our waterway system that is used 
by both commercial and recreational traffic.
   Unfortunately unlike the Senate version, the House bill did not 
include this policy priority that is vital to communities living in 
coal country. The Senate language, section 8001 of S. 2848, empowers 
states to manage coal ash instead of having those regulations dictated 
to the states by unelected federal bureaucrats.
   This failure to include the coal ash language is disappointing given 
the fact that similar legislation has passed the House six times since 
2011, most recently through the passage of H.R. 1734 on July 22, 2015.
   Importantly, this language makes clear that water infrastructure 
projects authorized under the Water Resources Development Act represent 
a beneficial reuse of coal combustion residuals. Coal ash is a key 
ingredient for improving the quality, durability, and sustainability of 
concrete used to build all water infrastructure projects.
   We have the opportunity to address this issue once and for all as we 
finalize the Water Resources Development Act of 2016. It is imperative 
that we address this issue to ensure the proper management and disposal 
of coal ash. Congress has a responsibility to provide finality to the 
recyclers and producers of coal ash as well as the more than 300,000 
individuals whose job is reliant upon the coal ash recycling.
   I urge my colleagues to adopt this important language in any final 
WRDA agreement.

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