Political Quotes

“I rise in support of H.R. 2207, the Coastal Pollution Reduction Act of 1997. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Representative Romero- Barcelo, amends the Clean Water Act to allow a community in Puerto Rico to apply to EPA for an alternative to secondary treatment requirements, subject to other requirements and conditions. This bill could help save Mayaguez, PR up to $65 million by avoiding the construction of more costly facilities while including appropriate environmental safeguards. The flexibility to pursue reasonable alternatives makes economic and environmental sense. Another provision, added in committee, modifies the Clean Water Act's National Estuary Program. The amendment would allow the use of Federal funds for implementation, as opposed to just development of comprehensive conservation and management plans [CCMP's]. This is a widely supported approach to protecting America's estuaries. I want to assure my colleagues that nothing in this amendment in any way provides new authority or expands existing authority for land use regulation. The existing NEP has been successful to date, in part, because it avoids a Federal regulatory approach. This amendment simply allows the use of Federal funds and technical assistance under section 320 of the Clean Water Act so that State, local and regional interests can take CCMP's to the next step: implementation.”