Political Quotes

“as the Senate considers fiscal year 1997 appropriations for the Environmental Protection Agency, it is only fitting that we highlight the need for reform in the manner in which EPA, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, regulates aboveground petroleum storage tanks [AST's]. Under current Federal law, no less than five Federal offices are tasked with jurisdiction over these tanks. The myriad of Federal and State statutes coupled with the number of Federal offices administering the various regulations results in a situation which is at best confusing for aboveground storage tank owners, costly to taxpayers, and harmful to the environment. Twice, once in 1989 and again in 1995, GAO has issued reports which detail how EPA should strengthen its program to improve the safety of aboveground oil storage tanks. While it is true that EPA has taken steps to implement some of the recommendations, EPA has yet to take substantive action on many others.”