James Traficant: “If the Federal Government or one of its agents or agencies has discharged such a pollutant into our stream, the…”

“If the Federal Government or one of its agents or agencies has discharged such a pollutant into our stream, the Traficant amendment says that any private property owner affected by it would not only be eligible under the bill, but they would be notified by the Traficant amendment that it has occurred. Mr. Chairman, the Traficant amendment is very clear. It says if a Federal agency, a Federal agency takes an action. If a Federal agency is responsible for discharging arsenic, the Traficant amendment says they shall notify all of the people. That is why it is so drafted, so everyone downstream in fact would have to be notified; would they not? There would have to be a notice, and if there was damage that was created from that, they would be eligible for compensation, and what are their procedures where they can go for such compensation. That is why it was unanimously accepted. This is the language that ensures that an average private property owner has some basic notification, more than anything else.”