May 21, 1970
Page 16482
ROLE OF SENATOR MUSKIE IN POLLUTION CONTROL
Mr. MAGNUSON. Mr. President, there are still a few stubborn souls who believe that the great plays of Shakespeare were not written by Shakespeare. There may even still exist on this planet, mystics who are convinced that the world is flat. And, apparently, there are those who fail to recognize that this country would still be in the dark ages of pollution control if it were not for En MUSKIE.
Today, in this time of environmental awareness, it might be instructive to look back on the days of the 1960's. I doubt that there was a man in this body in 1963 who had ever heard the term "ecology." Yet in 1963 Ed MUSKIE and his committee considered seven air pollution bills, held 9 days of hearings, three executive sessions, published onecommittee report, and produced the Clean Air Act of 1963 and the Water Quality Act which passed the Senate that year.
I asked the Staff of the Air and Water Pollution Subcommittee, which Senator MUSKIE chairs, to provide me with a list of subcommittee activity and environmental legislation. I ask unanimous consent that these lists be printed at the close of my remarks.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
(See exhibit 1)
Mr. MAGNUSON. Mr. President, these are impressive lists, and they demonstrate beyond question that Senator MUSKIE and his Subcommittee have made enormous contributions to environmental control in each of the intervening years.
But I also speak at firsthand. We on the Commerce Committee have had the good fortune to join with Senator MUSKIE and his Subcommittee in a shared effort to come to grips with the pollution hazards of the internal combustion engine. Together, through joint hearings on the technology of the electric and steam cars, we first focused attention on the potential for radical pollution reforms through the development of innovative propulsion systems.
This year, again in joint hearings, we have acted to develop legislation to stimulate the development of technological breakthroughs in low pollution vehicles. Senator MUSKiE joined with us in hearings, brought his expertise to bear in the development of our record, and supported our legislation (S. 3072) as it passed the Senate this year.
EXHIBIT 1
SUBCOMMITTEE ACTION ON AIR POLLUTION
LEGISLATION SINCE 1963
The following lists the activities of the Subcommittee on air pollution legislation from 1963 to the present:
1963: The Subcommittee considered 7 air pollution bills, held 9 days of hearings, 3 Executive sessions and published one Committee report (S. Rept. 638). In this year the Clean Air Act was passed.
1964: The Subcommittee heard 125 witnesses during 11 days of hearings. In October 1964 "Steps Toward Clean Air" was published.
1965: The Subcommittee considered 2 bills, heard 37 witnesses during 7 days of hearings, held 2 Executive Sessions and published 2 Committee reports (S. Rept. 128, 192). During this year the first amendments to the Clean Air Act were passed.
1966: The Subcommittee considered 3 air pollution bills, heard 16 witnesses during 5 days of hearings, held 2 Executive Sessions and published one report (S. Rept. 1361). The Clean Air Act was further amended.
1987: 3 bills were considered. The Subcommitee heard from 113 witnesses during a total of 23 days of hearings – 5 days of these were held jointly with the Commerce Committee. 2 Executive Sessions were held and one report (S. Rept. 403) was published. The Air Quality Act was passed.
1968: The Subcommittee considered one bill (S. 3031) and held 2 days of joint hearings on external combustion engines with the Commerce Committee with 12 witnesses testifying.
1969: This year was spent on oil pollution legislation. No hearings or Executive Sessions. Section 104 of the Clean Air Act was extended and S. 3229 proposed.
1970: This year the Subcommittee has heard a total of 51 witnesses during 12 days of hearings – 3 of which were joint hearings with the Commerce Committee.
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
WATER POLLUTION
1965: Water Quality Act (P.L. 89-234) Enunciated a national policy of water quality enhancement; established the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration and the water quality standards program.
1966: Clean Waters Restoration Act (P.L. 89-753) : Authorized $3.4 billion in Federal Grants (including incentives) for construction of municipal waste treatment facilities and eliminated limitations on grants which restricted participation by major cities.
1970: Water Quality Improvement Act (P.L. 91-224): Strengthens Federal authority to deal with oil pollution, Sewage discharges from vessels, and pollution from Federal and Federally-related activities. Title II establishes an Office of Environmental Quality in the Executive Office of the President to staff the Council on Environmental Quality (signed into law April 3, 1970).
*S. 2393: The Marine Resources Preservation Act: Authorizes the Interior Secretary to recommend the creation of marine preserves and prohibits the development or removal of any minerals, including gas or oil, from such preserves.
*S. 3516: The Santa Barbara Channel Preservation Act: Authorizes acquisition by the Federal Government of all oil leases in the Channel, provides for the removal of drilling platforms and setting aside of the mineral reserves to be tapped only in a national emergency.
*3687. The National Water Quality Standards Act: Authorizes $2.5 billion per year in Federal construction grants for waste treatment facilities over the next five years; extends the water quality standards program to all navigable waters; requires that enforceable effluent standards and compliance schedules be included in any standards implementation plan and that all new industrial facilities using navigable waters use the best available pollution control technology; and permits .class suits against alleged violators of standards.
*3688: The Clean Water Commitment Act: Represents proposals: which the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities believe necessary to stimulate construction of waste treatment. facilities at the local level; enunciates a national commitment for' financing of expanded water pollution programs and encourages better coordination in the development of clean water programs.
AIR POLLUTION
1963: Clean Air Act (P.L. 88-206) : Authorized Federal research and technical assistance to the States, matching grants to state, regional and local agencies for the creation or improvement of regulatory control programs. Federal enforcement program.
1965: Clean Air Act Amendments (P.L. 89-272): Provided Secretary of HEW with authority to establish standards for automobile exhaust emissions.
1966: Clean Air Act Amendments (P.L. 89-675): Provided for grants to the states to maintain effective air pollution program.
1967: Air Quality Act (P.L. 90-148): Enunciated a national policy of air quality enhancement; provided for designation of air quality control regions and for setting of air quality standards.
1969: Clean Air Act Amendments (P.L. 91137) : Extended the authorization for research on low-emission fuel and vehicles, Sec. 104 of the Clean Air Act, for one year. $45 million was authorized for this purpose.
*S, 3229: Air Quality Improvement Act: Authorizes the Secretary of HEW to set national emission standards for new and used vehicles which move in interstate commerce, including aircraft, vessels, and engines; authorizes low-emission vehicle research and establishes an Office of Noise Pollution Abatement and Control in HEW.
*S. 3072: The Federal Low-Emission Vehicle Procurement Act: Requires that the Federal Government purchase certified low emission vehicles for its own use.
*S. 3546. The Air Quality Standards Act: Accelerates the implementation of the 1967 Air Quality standards program by requiring that states set and enforce standards for all areas of a state not covered by Federally designated air quality regions; provides for citizen suits to enforce air quality standards and for new enforcement authority.
SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
1965: Solid Waste Disposal Act (P.L. 89272) : Authorized matching grant program for research, development and demonstration of improved methods of disposing of solid waste.
1968: (P.L. 90-574) : Extended the Solid Waste Disposal Act to allow the Eliassen study on solid waste management to be completed.
*S. 2005: Resource Recovery Act: Provides for financial assistance to the States in the construction of solid waste disposal facilities and directs Secretary of HEW to carry out research into new and improved methods to recover, recycle and reuse wastes.
OTHER LEGISLATION
*S. 3042: Provides for an evaluation of the environmental effects of underground nuclear testing.
*S. 2752: The intergovernmental Power Coordination and Environmental Protection Act: Provides for effective public participation in site selection for bulk power facilities and requires that proposed facilities meet environmental and other standards in order to be licensed for construction or operation.
S. 3410: The National Environmental Laboratories Act: Sets up a system of laboratories throughout the country to evaluate the potential effects of new technologies.
*S. 3677: The Environmental Quality Administration Act: Sets up an independent,
watchdog agency to develop and enforce Federal environmental quality standards, support research, and provide technical aid to various government agencies.
*S.J. Res. 89: Provides increased support for ecological research in the International Biological Program.
*S. Res. 78: Proposes setting up a select Senate Committee on Technology and the Human Environment.
*S. Res. 179: Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should actively participate in the 1972 United National conference on the Human Environment.
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*Under consideration.