William Bryan: “much has been said over the past few hours today and earlier during the course of our discussion of S. 1936 about what I…”

“much has been said over the past few hours today and earlier during the course of our discussion of S. 1936 about what I consider one of the most serious defects of this piece of legislation in that it emasculates the environmental protections that have been drafted for more than a quarter of a century, most of which with bipartisan support and in effect says with respect to this particular issue they shall not apply. So what we are doing is we are giving people an opportunity, our colleagues an opportunity, to express themselves on the environmental issue, very, very simple. The first part of this amendment says: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary shall comply with all Federal laws and regulations in developing and implementing the integrated management system. My colleagues will recall the section 501 under the current provisions, as amended, is very convoluted and says: If the requirements of any Federal, State, or local law (including a requirement imposed by regulation or by any other means under such a law) are inconsistent with or duplicative of the requirements of the Atomic Energy Act . . . or of this Act, the Secretary shall comply only with the requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and of this Act. . . . This Mr. President, makes it very, very clear. If you do not want all of these environmental laws preempted, this is the way to correct it.”