Sen. Lautenberg Seeks To Close Railroad Waste Facility Exemption

Date: April 19, 2007

Source: News Room

Press Release of Senator Lautenberg

Lautenberg Urges Transportation Board To Let States Regulate Waste Sites Along Rail Lines

Senator Says States Should Be Allowed To Regulate Solid Waste Processing Facilities Along Railroads

U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today testified at a Surface Transportation Board (STB) hearing to say states like New Jersey should have the authority to regulate solid waste processing facilities along rail lines.

"Unregulated waste facilities, whether on a rail line or not, are bad for our communities. States like New Jersey need the ability to regulate them to protect the health and safety of their residents -- and it's critical for the Board to act today to make sure states have those rights," said Sen. Lautenberg. "While I have a bill that would give states the tools they need, the Board could resolve this problem far sooner. I urge the Board to act quickly."

A loophole in federal law allows large piles of garbage to accumulate along rail lines across the country. The trash, largely composed of construction debris that can include elevated levels of arsenic and mercury, is kept at sites along rail lines before being shipped to landfills in other states. Garbage piles, some as tall as two stories, pose a serious health and environmental risk to those who live near, or work at, sites like this across New Jersey and the nation.

New Jersey has tried repeatedly to impose regulations on the trash piles in an effort to protect residents but federal courts have ruled against the state, effectively allowing companies to continue the dangerous practice. The STB has the authority to let states like New Jersey regulate such facilities, but until today has not considered action.

Sen. Lautenberg and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) have sponsored legislation -- the Clean Railroads Act of 2007 (S.719) -- to close the federal loophole and allow New Jersey and other states to regulate solid waste facilities on rail property for environmental, health, and safety reasons.

Sen. Lautenberg serves as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee's subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security. The Senator's subcommittee has jurisdiction over railroad issues and oversees the confirmation of STB board members.

For more information, contact: Michael Pagan (202) 228-6393.

(lautenberg.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=272643)

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