STATEMENT BY SENATOR WARNER HEARING ON THE TRANSPORTATION OF INTERSTATE WASTE MARCH 20, 2002
Mr. Chairman, I want
to thank you for scheduling our hearing this morning. I join in welcoming our witnesses
who will share their individual experiences with us.
The transport and
disposal of waste across state lines is an issue that I have worked on for over
ten years.
The problem has not
gone away, and over time, has only worsened. States are charged, under Federal
law, with the requirement to ensure that there is adequate, long-term capacity
to dispose waste generated IN-STATE.
This critical
planning cannot be fully formed by states unless they have the necessary
authority to manage all municipal solid waste, regardless of where it
originates.
The current practice
of allowing each local government to decide to accept out-of-state waste in a
piecemeal fashion does not allow for responsible solid waste planning. Neither
does it promote sound environmental protection of our natural resources and
open space.
One cannot deny that there are potential
long-term consequences to our environment from these landfills, particularly
our underground drinking water supplies grading off environmental damages for
short-term financial gains is not acceptable.
It is time for the federal government to act to give states this modest authority. I pledge to continue working with this committee to move legislation forward.