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H.R. 1300 changes Superfund law
H.R.1300 maintains these goals. I don't think Rep. DeFazio should be targeted for his good faith effort to reform the troubled Superfund law. While H.R.1300 does not address all of the needed changes to the Superfund law, I know DeFazio feels its important to move forward with the best possible package. He has worked hard with H.R.1300 sponsors to ensure the basic principles of the program are maintained -- protecting human health and the environment and ensuring polluters, not the taxpayers, pay for clean up needs. H.R.1300 does not maintain the status quo, but DeFazio knows that the status quo is not acceptable. Many toxic sites are mired in litigation because of the complicated law. Its time to make changes to get these sites cleaned up. In addition, what Ms. Fairchild probably doesn't know is that this bill includes an important provision championed by DeFazio that would give Oregonians a say in clean-up decisions at one of the largest Superfund sites in the United States right in Oregon's backyard -- the Hanford facility on the Columbia River in Richland, Washington. H.R.1300 contains language that would give the State of Oregon a role in environmental clean up decisions at Hanford. Under current federal law, Oregon is not provided any role in these important decisions. Nearly one million Oregonians live directly downriver from Hanford. Thousands of Oregonians live within the fifty mile nuclear emergency planning radius of the Hanford site. Any accident at Hanford would be pose an immediate risk to these Oregonians. It's only fair that Oregonians have a formal role in how clean up at this Superfund site is managed. H.R.1300 would give Oregon that right. Sincerely, |