John Spratt: “The Walker amendment then passed on a voice vote. This amendment expands the scope of H.R. 1022 far beyond what I think…”

“The Walker amendment then passed on a voice vote. This amendment expands the scope of H.R. 1022 far beyond what I think most Members appreciated, because there was no time to explain it when it came before us. Basically, this Walker amendment provides that when any Federal agency approves or rejects any environmental cleanup plan, and the costs of the clean up plan will exceed $5 million, then the Risk Assessment Cost-Benefit Act is triggered. What in turn that means is that a full-blown risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis is required before the agency can move forward with the plan. If the benefits do not exceed the costs under the act, then the plan cannot be carried forward. Mr. Speaker, I think we all agree that CERCLA or Superfund has taken too much time and involved too many lawyers. If we allow this amendment to stand in this bill, then we have just found another way to take more time and involve more lawyers, and I do not think that is the direction we want to move in.”