Sherwood Boehlert: “I rise to address provisions in H.R. 2036, the Land Disposal Program Flexibility Act. First, I want to commend the…”

“I rise to address provisions in H.R. 2036, the Land Disposal Program Flexibility Act. First, I want to commend the leadership of the Commerce Committee for moving forward with legislation that attempts to solve problems involving the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Clean Water Act and groundwater protection. The bill should help to streamline and coordinate an environmentally responsible approach to management of certain wastes in surface impoundments and to provide responsible exemptions for solid waste landfills in remote or arid areas and in situations lacking any evidence of groundwater pollution. Second, I want to thank the Commerce Committee for addressing and responding to some of the concerns of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, which I chair, has jurisdiction over the Clean Water Act and over the pollution of navigable waters. Clearly, we have an interest in this bill; we did not pursue a formal referral of H.R. 2036, however, in part because of the urgency of the issue and the willingness of the Commerce Committee to work with us. Like drinking water, this is an area where the two committees can and will work together.”