Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (House of Representatives - May 19, 2005)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I am also pleased to be a cosponsor of this amendment.

Let me be very clear. This amendment would not ban all blending. In fact, it would have no effect on any currently permitted uses of blending. The Clean Water Act already says you can blend but only during a serious rain event. The EPA's proposed policy change, however, would let sewer operators bypass secondary treatment anytime it rains. That is what really could add a lot more sewage to our waters.

I have been fighting this proposal every step of the way and the EPA has finally said they are not going to do it. However, we must make sure that they do not. I understand that the EPA is now saying they are no longer going to finalize this proposed policy change, but they could change their mind tomorrow.

It should be a very easy vote for Members. We are saying that this is a bad idea. The EPA is now saying it is a bad idea. We are just making sure that the EPA actually does what it says it will do, because, who knows, tomorrow they may change their mind. But I do not want anybody here to think that all blending is going to be banned. You can still do it during a serious rain event, but you should not be allowed to do it anytime you want because that is going to increase tremendously the volume of material that does not have secondary treatment. And you will not have secondary treatment if you allow this policy to go ahead. It will be able to make an exemption anytime you please, and that is the problem. Our waters will get dirty. It will affect our tourism, our shellfish in coastal States around the country. Do not allow it to happen.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov