March 25, 1965
PAGE 5870
PASSAGE OF S.560, THE FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT CONTROL ACT.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I offer two technical amendments to S. 560, as amended. These are to insert the word "subsection" instead of the word "section" on page 7, line 25, and on page 8, line 5.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on the amendments. Without objection, the amendments are agreed to.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, Senate bill 560, designated as the Federal Installations, Facilities, and Equipment Control Act, introduced by myself and 15 cosponsors, would provide a more effective basis for the control of water and air pollution from Federal buildings, installations, or other property. It would also provide that automotive vehicles purchased by the Federal Government, on and after October 1, 1966, be manufactured or equipped to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants from exhaust emissions. Certain special-purpose vehicles would be exempt from this provision.
I want to note at this point that devices have been tested and approved which are replacements for elements of the exhaust systems and which reduce harmful exhaust emissions. Also, the automobile industry has indicated that certain engine modifications that are commercially practicable could be made to reduce exhaust emissions.
The legislation was first suggested by the ranking minority member of the subcommittee [Mr. BOGGS]. As in the case of other pollution control legislation, he has played a leading and constructive role in the development of this bill.
Briefly, S. 560, as reported by the Committee on Public Works, provides the following:
First. Establishes a procedure for setting standards for allowable discharges of waterborne waste from Federal installations.
Second. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make necessary inspections and investigations of waste discharge practices.
Third. Authorizes funds to install, maintain, and operate works to control water pollution and directs appropriate agencies to request necessary funds.
Fourth. Requires that all new or expanded installations include facilities to attain desirable degree of waste pollution control.
Fifth. Authorizes training of personnel to operate and maintain waste treatment works.
Sixth. Establishes a system for periodic reports to the President and the Congress on waste treatment control programs in Federal installations.
Seventh. Provides for automotive emission standards to be applied to all federally purchased automotive vehicles after October 1, 1966. Certain special-purpose vehicles may be exempted.
Eighth. Authorizes funds to install, maintain, and operate air pollution control devices and directs the appropriate agencies to request necessary funds.
Ninth. Requires that all new or expanded installations include air pollution control measures.
Tenth. Authorizes training of personnel to operate and maintain devices or other means of controlling air pollution.
Eleventh. Establishes a system for periodic reports to the President and the Congress on air pollution control practices and the effectiveness of actions taken.
Twelfth. Authorizes Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to inspect and investigate air pollution control practices at Federal installations.
These expanded areas of Federal activity are essential to a meaningful national water and air pollution control program.
It would be less than fair if we require, through Federal legislation, that States, municipalities, corporations, and private individuals adhere to antipollution practices and not require the same degree of attention to the problems of water and air pollution by our Federal agencies.
Much attention has been given to the water and air pollution problems by our Federal agencies; however, there is no real coordinated direction on their part in reducing the problem. Many agencies are operating under a variety of directives and instructions, but there is no direct congressional mandate to install the necessary waste treatment facilities, nor has any particular agency been designated to take the lead in assuring that proper action is taken. Most agencies are preoccupied with the problems of their basic mission and are unwilling or unable to obtain funds to correct the problems of water and air pollution.
The committee has been told by a number of State officials of their frustrations in attempting to have Federal agencies provide waste treatment works to meet desirable water quality standards, while at the same time, under their State laws, they have required that municipalities, corporations, and State-controlled institutions carry out practices designed to correct the problem.
This same situation exists with respect to air pollution problems, although to a lesser extent because the air pollution program is only in its infancy. Nonetheless, coordinated direction needs to be given to the prevention and control of air pollutants from Federal installations.
With respect to the problem of controlling air pollution resulting from automotive vehicle exhausts, I would like to commend the General Services Administration for their forward-looking action in specifying exhaust standards to be met by certain types of vehicles purchased by it after October 1, 1966. However, there are other Federal agencies who have their own purchasing authority, and they, too, should be required to specify that exhaust emissions be controlled to desirable limits.
Also, there needs to be a centralized Federal authority to study effects of emissions and means of controlling them.
The committee is aware that certain types of military vehicles, such as tanks and other combat vehicles, and certain types of vehicles used for civilian purposes should be exempt from the application of standards, since the control of emissions is not possible, practicable, or necessary. Also, at this time sufficient research has not been made to determine the extent of the effect of emissions from diesel-powered vehicles, nor means of effectuating control. Therefore, a provision has been included which would allow exemptions from standards in special instances.
It is my belief that this legislation is a meaningful step in the right direction on the road to more effective water and air pollution control and a healthy environment for all of us. I urge its passage by the Senate.
Mr. BOGGS. Mr. President, I would like to concur in the remarks just made by the junior Senator from Maine [Mr. MUSKIE] relative to S. 560, a bill to provide for improved control of air and water pollution from Federal installations and facilities.
Since the first water pollution control legislation was enacted during President Eisenhower's administration, each administration has recognized the role and responsibility of the Federal Government in pollution control. Unfortunately, while the Federal Government has provided moneys and technical assistance to States and municipalities for water pollution control, they have been somewhat less diligent in requiring Federal installations and facilities to control pollution.
As a result, in some instances fine efforts to clean up our streams have gone for naught as the result of a Federal installation continuing to pour inadequately treated wastes into the Nation's streams. This bill, Mr. President, for the first time provides the mechanism and the congressional mandate for Federal agencies to take affirmative action to control both air and water pollution at their installations.
Mr. President, I am glad to be a cosponsor of this bill and desire to congratulate the chairman of the subcommittee [Mr. MUSKIE] for all his interest and work in developing this bill.
I think this legislation is needed. It will be helpful. I urge that it be passed.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further amendments to be proposed, the question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and to be read a third time.
The bill was read the third time and passed.
The title was amended so as to read: "A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Clean Air Act in order to provide for improved control of water and air pollution from Federal installations and facilities and automotive vehicles."
Mr. MANSFIELD. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.