[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 7331-7336]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 7331]]

                   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 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.

[[Page 7332]]

  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.

                              {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.
  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. 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

[[Page 7333]]

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 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

[[Page 7334]]

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 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. 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

[[Page 7335]]

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.

       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.

[[Page 7336]]

  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 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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