Frank Lautenberg

It is good to hear your report, Ms. Spinelli, and we welcome you.

I am going to ask Senator Inhofe for his questions. But we will keep the record open and send our requests to you in writing and ask that you give us a prompt response.

The first thing I want to establish is that I am not Senator Boxer.

The estimates are that there are, you said this in your comments, 450,000 Brownfield sites across the Country.

I thought that wasn't allowed around here any more.

Brownfields are blighted properties that have been a drag on local economies because of contamination or the mere perception of contamination.

Give it all the money you can. Because this doesn't go to any one particular group.

During the past 2 years, this Committee and the Subcommittee have held five hearings that identified serious problems with the Toxic Substance Control Act, known as TSCA.

If we can make the program generally more available and with more funding.

We have had I won't say it is a unique relationship, but it is one that we don't agree necessarily on all the subjects, but we agree on respect for one another.

Notice how he glances at me as he says that.

We strongly recommend that Congress reauthorize the program; however, reauthorization represents an opportunity for improvement.

I am working with Senator Tom Udall to strengthen safety standards for helmets.

Despite the fact that you have the good fortune to have that kind of unemployment rate, nevertheless, Mayor, you can use help in the Brownfields program and extend job opportunity and economic opportunity for your city and your State?

We welcome the witnesses. Obviously, I guess we all think that when we have an issue before the public, that we all think it is very important.

No parent should ever have to fear for their child's life when they play sports.

As we consider reauthorizing the Brownfields law, what might we do to better encouraging using contaminated lands for clean energy production?

Are we turning away proposals that have merit as a result of lack of funding each year?

This shows bipartisanship at its best.

It is time to reauthorize the program, because we still have a lot of work to do, and a lot of opportunity to gain.

Senator Feinstein's a strong advocate for improving pipeline safety, and she's committed to ensuring that we do everything that we can to avoid tragedies like what we witnessed in San Bruno.

Thank you very much.

Now, PG&E has been aware of some of these deficiencies since incidents that occurred as far back as 1981.

I call the hearing to order. We have the excellent opportunity to hear from our distinguished colleague from California.

Ms. Quarterman, the NTSB made more than a dozen recommendations to PHMSA, and its report on the San Bruno accident. Now, how quickly can PHMSA move forward on addressing these recommendations?