Ralph Hall: “I of course believe that tools are good if they are used properly and if they are not used for obstruction, and that is…”

“I of course believe that tools are good if they are used properly and if they are not used for obstruction, and that is really what this amendment is. This amendment would just simply prohibit the Secretary from taking any action. I think it creates an absolute obligation for the Secretary to conduct the proposed analysis subject to anything that comes under H.R. 1270, any type action. It makes no allowance for the Secretary to conduct a risk assessment during other steps of the process. This proposal lacks even an adequate definition of risk assessment. It provides no direction as to the consequences of the assessment. We say that the EIS already requires this and it is going to be done, it will be done, it is directed that it be done. It throws up a number of procedural hurdles that really renders impossible the storage as this act calls for. This is a bad amendment. It is just meant to cripple. I urge that Members vote it down.”