Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency's hazardous solid waste disposal regulations.

Highlights:

• Requires the president to consult with an affected state when undertaking a removal action under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (Superfund) (Sec. 202).

• Requires the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other entities involved to consult with relevant state and local officials when planning and selecting a remedial action taken under Superfund (Sec. 202).

• Requires the administrator to review and revise regulations under the Solid Waste Disposal Act as he or she determines to be appropriate, whereas existing law requires review and revision every 3 years (Sec. 102).

• Prohibits the president from requiring the owner of a facility to be financially responsible for the risk associated with hazardous substances before submitting a report to Congress with certain information including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 104):
• A description of the facility covered by the requirement;
• A description of the development of the requirement and why the facility is not already covered by existing financial responsibilities;
• A description of financial responsibility required by state or federal agencies; and
• A description of market capacity to provide instruments of financial responsibility necessary to meet the requirement.

• Exempts the owner or operator of a facility who maintains evidence of financial responsibility of hazardous substances pursuant to state or federal requirements from the financial responsibility requirements of this bill, unless the president determines that current federal and state financial responsibility requirements are insufficient (Sec. 105).

• Requires the president to provide a written response within 90 days of a revision to the National Priorities List to a state that submitted a hazardous substance priority request with an explanation for the basis for not including the priority on the revised National Priorities List of known hazardous substances that determines which sites warrant further investigation by the EPA (Sec. 204).

• Prohibits the president from adding a facility to the National Priorities List over the written objection of a state, except in the following circumstances (Sec. 204):
• The state is a potentially responsible party;
• The president determines that the contamination may result in response actions by multiple states; or
• The criteria under the National Contingency Plan for issuance of a health advisory have been met.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text