Taking The Hill
ISTEA Amendment Codifies New Clean Air Regulations
U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Clean Air Subcommittee Chairman James Inhofe has added an amendment to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) that would codify the presidential administration's new regulations for ozone and particulate matter. The measure would also require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to pay for all particulate matter monitoring costs, something the states had feared would be passed on to them. The amendment was agreed to by voice vote.
Many have suggested that legislation codifying the administration's flexible implementation would prevent the plan from being overturned in the courts. EPA Administrator Carol Browner, however, has said such legislation could itself be the subject of lawsuits and that the administration already had the authority under the Clean Air Act for flexible implementation.
Inhofe has worked to pass legislation that would delay the new regulations for ozone and particulate matter. However, there was not enough support among members of Congress to pass such legislation. Now that the amendment has been added to the highway authorization bill, Inhofe has said he will not pursue additional legislation regarding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone and Particulate Matter (NAAQS) this year.
The amendment agreed to by the Senate does not change the new regulations or delay their impact. Rather, the amendment would codify the flexible implementation already promised by EPA and the administration.
Superfund Reform
The U.S. House Transportation Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee has passed legislation to reauthorize and amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Liability, and Compensation Act of 1980. The bill was introduced by Congressman Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) and passed the subcommittee by a vote of 18-12.
Superfund was enacted to clean up toxic sites that threaten human health and the environment and this legislation will authorize the program through 2002.
Only one amendment, which included several changes, was made to the legislation in subcommittee. First, the term "principal threats" replaces "hot spots" to signify a highly contaminated area. The subcommittee also limited the recycling exemption for used oil. Oil that will be recycled is exempt, but oil that is mixed with any hazardous substance is not. Additional changes were made to a provision concerning groundwater and state programs.
Browner Testifies Before House Subcommittee
EPA Administrator Carol Browner recently testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Veteran Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies, presenting the president's 1999 budget for $7.77 billion to fund the EPA.
The budget increases the agency's funding by almost $400 million over last year and provides $7.8 billion for EPA priorities including fighting pollution that causes global warming, implementing the new clean air standards, cleanup of toxic sites, and providing information to the public through Right-to-Know Programs.
Seventy-five million dollars have been requested to implement the new clean air standards and Browner reiterated the administration's commitment to developing the new particulate matter monitoring network. Many had feared that this cost would be passed on to the states.
The budget requests an increase of $19 million to fund citizen right-to-know functions including the Internet and the new Center for Environmental Information and Statistics.
EPA hopes to fund the Office of Research and Development at $527 million. EPA has been criticized in the past for basing new regulations on unsound science. Browner and the EPA continue to deny this, but have nevertheless emphasized a scientific basis for cost-effective environmental policies.
The administration's EPA budget increases spending 6 percent as compared to fiscal year 1998.
Senate Increases Transportation Funding by 36 Percent
The U.S. Senate has passed legislation authorizing highway spending for the next six years. The Intermodal Surface Transportation and Efficiency Act (ISTEA) passed by a vote of 96-4 and authorizes $215 billion to be spent on the nation's transportation network. The House will begin consideration of similar legislation soon. House Transportation Committee Chairman Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) anticipates that the House and the Senate will be able to meet in conference to work out differences between the House and Senate bills by May 1, when the 6-month continuation of ISTEA expires.
One of the greatest accomplishments of the legislation is that every state will receive at least 91 cents for every dollar that it contributes to the highway trust fund.
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AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLVI, May 1998 (http://www.asashop.org)