Political Quotes

“yesterday, Chairman Ortiz and I introduced the Ocean Radioactive Dumping Ban Act of 1994. The act conforms the U.S. law to the international treaty known as the London Convention which, effective February 20, 1994, banned the dumping of radioactive waste at sea. Currently, the ocean dumping of radioactive waste is regulated under the Ocean Dumping Act [ODA]. The ODA allows dumping of radioactive waste only after Congress has passed a joint resolution authorizing the dumping. Although this provision has been in force since 1985, Congress has yet to authorize any radioactive dumping. For decades, U.S. law on ocean pollution has been more stringent than international law. At the time of enactment, the radioactive dumping provisions in ODA were among the most restrictive in the world, going well beyond international treaty obligations. That is no longer the case. The Ocean Radioactive Dumping Ban Act corrects this by eliminating ODA's current arduous permitting process and replacing it with a simple ban. It ensures that the United States retains its leadership position in protecting the world's marine environment.”