Angie Craig: “The superfund site in Coeur d'Alene, ID, that the Senator from New Jersey referred to, 3 years ago was touted to cost $1…”

“The superfund site in Coeur d'Alene, ID, that the Senator from New Jersey referred to, 3 years ago was touted to cost $1 billion to clean up. As a result of a cooperative State plan, in conjunction with EPA--the first unique plan of this kind, designed under a new State commission; and our new Director Whitman has signed off on it-- that same area can be cleaned up and meet all of the standards for less than $300 million over a 12-year to 15-year period. Now, $300 million versus $1 billion is a heck of a lot of money. Because of these new cooperative relationships and State plans--that past EPAs refused to negotiate and bring States into the process--but because we are now doing that, I agree with the Senator from Oklahoma, there is great opportunity for reform. You just don't throw money at these problems. You resolve them in new, creative ways, and still meet standards for clean water and clean air.”