Mark Hatfield: “Today Senator Domenici, Senator Boren, and Senator Nickles, and I are introducing amendments to the Safe Drinking Water…”

“Today Senator Domenici, Senator Boren, and Senator Nickles, and I are introducing amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act that will guarantee a high level of health protection at a cost the water-rate payers of our country can afford. I have always supported the Safe Drinking Water Act. I voted for the original legislation in 1974 and for the 1986 amendments. Last July, I convened over 150 representatives of water systems in Oregon to discuss drinking water and the Safe Drinking Water Act. All of the water operators of Oregon believe strongly in a safe, clean, and affordable supply of drinking water. However, I believe each of them would tell you that the Safe Drinking Water Act is not working as Congress originally intended. My Senate colleagues have heard the same concerns. States and local systems struggle with unrealistically high standards, too many regulations, unclear priorities, limited information about the risk to human health, and inadequate resources. Many systems spend resources on contaminants they have never had while the worst problems go ignored. For the people on the front lines of drinking water provisions, I learned that many of the requirements in the Safe Drinking Water Act have put an incredible burden on the local areas of my State, especially the rural areas. That burden is so great that--instead of guaranteeing safe water--the Safe Drinking Water Act may increase the risk Oregonians face when they turn on the tap.”