Senator Menendez: NJ Senators Lambaste Federal Panel For Allowing Unregulated Rail Waste Sites

Senators vow to move legislation forward, protect municipalities by pushing to close federal loophole

July 11, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today said they would pursue legislation to give states the power to regulate waste storage at railway stations after a politically-appointed federal panel yesterday refused to grant states the authority to take such action.

“I am deeply disappointed in the Board’s decision, which puts the interests of the railroad companies ahead of the communities affected by rail waste. New Jersey needs to be able to clean up railroad waste sites that pose threats to the health and safety of our neighborhoods. This Board made it clear that we must draft a new law to ensure safe and clean operations at rail waste sites,” said Sen. Lautenberg.

“This is an irresponsible decision that could threaten the health of our state, its citizens and its environment. Our delegation is continuing the fight to prohibit railroads from brazenly flouting environmental protections that keep our rivers clean, our air clear, and our families healthy. That is the purpose of our bill. We cannot afford to stand idly by,” said Sen. Menendez.

Yesterday, the Federal Surface Transportation Board, a three-member federal board whose members are appointed by the President, issued a decision which refused to close a loophole in federal law preventing states from regulating solid waste processing facilities which are located on rail sites.

Due to this loophole, an increasing number of waste facilities have cropped up on New Jersey’s rail lines and have argued that the State cannot regulate them the way non-rail waste processors are regulated. Yesterday’s decision reaffirmed a recent federal court ruling and clarified the need for federal legislation to close the loophole.

Sens. Lautenberg and Menendez have introduced the Clean Railroads Act of 2007, a bill to close the loophole in federal law and allow states to regulate all solid waste facilities equally, regardless of whether they are located on a rail line. The bill is currently being considered by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, on which Lautenberg sits.

Source: Senator Robert Menendez

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •