Jan. 3, 2001 sees Congressional Record publish “RE-INTRODUCTION OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES ASSISTANCE ACT”

Volume 147, No. 1 covering the 1st Session of the 107th Congress (2001 - 2002) was published by the Congressional Record.

The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.

“RE-INTRODUCTION OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES ASSISTANCE ACT” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E5 on Jan. 3, 2001.

The publication is reproduced in full below:

RE-INTRODUCTION OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES ASSISTANCE ACT

______

HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

of new york

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, January 3, 2001

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, my colleague Representative Sherwood Boehlert and I are proud to reintroduce the Small Communities Assistance Act.

For years, small towns and villages have labored to satisfy environmental regulations tailored to the needs and resources of major cities. This bipartisan legislation would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide more help for small communities in meeting their environmental obligations.

Larger urban areas can have an entire environmental services department that employs dozens of people to interpret the EPA's complex and sometimes costly regulations. At the same time, small communities often do not have even one full-time employee assigned to this task. This bill will assist small communities and give them a larger voice in drafting regulations with a fair and balanced approach considering they do not have the staff and financial capabilities of larger communities.

People who live in small towns are proud of their community and their environment. They want to comply with health and environmental standards in order to leave a healthy legacy for their children. However, small communities need flexibility in order to comply with environmental regulations as they seek to protect their families' health and the local environment. One size does not fit all.

The Small Communities Assistance Act would require each EPA regional office to establish a Small Town Ombudsman Office to advocate for small communities. The EPA would also develop a plan to increase the involvement of small communities in the regulatory review process so that EPA regulations would be flexible enough to account for small town priorities. The agency would be required to survey small communities and establish a small community advisory committee.

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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 147, No. 1