H2330 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 5, 2019 have 5 legislative days in which to re- Committee colleague from Colorado, Congress, but this bill is now coming vise and extend their remarks and in- DIANA DEGETTE. up at a critically important time. Ac- clude extraneous material on H.R. 347. H.R. 347 extends the authorization of cording to the Department of Energy, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there the Uranium Mill Radiation if the disposal cell is not reauthorized objection to the request of the gen- Control Act of 1978 site in Mesa Coun- this year, DOE will have to take steps tleman from New York? ty, Colorado. The legislation was to begin to decommission the site. This There was no objection. passed by the House last September, means no more materials will be ac- Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- and the bill today is identical to what cepted in 2019 and we will lose a crit- self such time as I may consume. we passed last year, save a change in ical component of the DOE’s legacy Mr. Speaker, last September the dates. management program. House approved an identical bill, H.R. The legislation was considered by the I thank my colleague from Colorado, 2278, in the 115th Congress by a voice Subcommittee on Environment and Ms. DIANA DEGETTE, for her support on vote. Unfortunately, that bill did not marked up through regular order. It this bill, and for her leadership on the move in the Senate, so we are back to was reported by the full committee Energy and Commerce Committee for reconsider H.R. 347, introduced by Mr. with a bipartisan amendment by a recognizing the need to bring this bill TIPTON and cosponsored by my Energy voice vote. up now. and Commerce colleague, Ms. Mining and processing of uranium Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to DEGETTE. generates a byproduct known as ura- support H.R. 347. The Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation nium mill tailings. Congress passed the Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I have no Control Act established a process for Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Con- additional speakers, and I continue to remediating inactive uranium-ore trol Act 4 years ago to establish the reserve the balance of my time. processing sites, such as the one in framework for DOE to dispose of mill Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I urge Grand Junction, Colorado. tailings, which are left over from nu- passage of the bill, and I yield back the clear defense activities and the devel- To protect and safety balance of my time. opment of our commercial nuclear in- from potential risks, uranium mill Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I, too, for dustry. tailings must be disposed at a site that the reasons that this legislation would The act also authorized the Grand is licensed and that meets standards allow for the only disposal site of its established by the Nuclear Regulatory Junction, Colorado, site to serve as a disposal location. This is the only DOE kind in the country, it is important Commission and the Environmental that we pass this important infrastruc- Protection Agency. uranium mill tailings disposal site re- maining open in the Nation, so it is ture concept, and I encourage our col- The continued operation of the Che- leagues to support the bill. ney Disposal Cell is critical. Last year, necessary for the final disposition of mill tailings discovered in commu- Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance the Colorado Department of Public of my time. Health and Environment provided the nities. H.R. 347 extends the site’s current au- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The following for the RECORD: ‘‘Given that thorization until 2031. The extension question is on the motion offered by this is the only DOE uranium mill will enable the site to plan long-term the gentleman from New York (Mr. tailings disposal site left in the coun- operations to protect public health and TONKO) that the House suspend the try, it is critical that this facility re- the environment. rules and pass the bill, H.R. 347. mains open to receive and dispose of Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this The question was taken; and (two- the uranium mill tailings that are dis- bill, and I reserve the balance of my thirds being in the affirmative) the covered in our communities. This ac- time. rules were suspended and the bill was tion will ensure the continued protec- Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I have no passed. tion of human health and the environ- additional speakers on my side, and I A motion to reconsider was laid on ment.’’ continue to reserve the balance of my the table. The cell receives approximately 2,700 time. f cubic yards of additional per Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield year, and has sufficient space to re- REAUTHORIZING WEST VALLEY such time as he may consume to the DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ceive an estimated 235,000 cubic yards, gentleman from Colorado (Mr. TIPTON), which represents 86 more years of oper- the author of the legislation. Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to ation at current rates. Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank suspend the rules and pass the bill H.R. 347 would authorize the Depart- my colleague from Illinois for yielding. (H.R. 1138) to reauthorize the West Val- ment of Energy to continue to operate Mr. Speaker, the Department of En- ley demonstration project, and for the Cheney Disposal Cell through Sep- ergy’s Cheney Disposal Cell in Mesa other purposes. tember 2048 or until it is filled to ca- County, Colorado, is a critical compo- The Clerk read the title of the bill. pacity. Currently, DOE is authorized to nent of the DOE legacy management The text of the bill is as follows: operate this cell through September mission to protect public health and H.R. 1138 2023. the environment. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- Mr. Speaker, this is a good, bipar- The cell receives resentatives of the United States of America in tisan bill, and I hope we can move it materials that were produced decades Congress assembled, forward today. ago during the uranium milling proc- SECTION 1. WEST VALLEY DEMONSTRATION Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of ess. The waste materials continue to be PROJECT. my time. uncovered during road construction, (a) REAUTHORIZATION.—Section 3(a) of the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without bridge replacement, home foundation West Valley Demonstration Project Act objection, the gentleman from Illinois excavation, and other construction ac- (Public Law 96–368; 42 U.S.C. 2021a note) is amended by striking ‘‘$5,000,000 for the fiscal (Mr. SHIMKUS) will control the time for tivities in several towns in western year ending September 30, 1981’’ and insert- the minority. Colorado. Once the waste materials are ing ‘‘$75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 There was no objection. discovered, they must be properly dis- through 2026’’. Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield posed of at the Cheney Disposal Cell. (b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months myself such time as I may consume. The authorization for the Cheney after the date of enactment of this Act, the Mr. Speaker, first, with apologies to Disposal Cell expires at the end of 2023, Comptroller General shall submit to Con- our official reporter, and directed at or when the site is filled to capacity. gress a report that describes— you, ‘‘let the good times roll,’’ ‘‘laissez Currently, the remaining capacity in (1) the volumes, origins, and types of radio- les bons temps rouler.’’ the cell is approximately 234,000 cubic active waste at the Western New York Serv- Mr. Speaker, H.R. 347, the Respon- ice Center in West Valley, New York; yards, therefore, an extended author- (2) what options have been identified for sible Disposal Reauthorization Act of ization is required. H.R. 347 would ex- disposal of each such type of radioactive 2019, was introduced by our Colorado tend the authorization until 2031. waste; colleague, SCOTT TIPTON, and cospon- As my colleague from Illinois noted, (3) what is known about the costs of, and sored by my Energy and Commerce we passed this legislation in the last timeframes for, each such option;

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While tion, and ensures spending at the site option, according to the State of New York I would prefer more certainty in clari- is subject to an active authorization. and the Department of Energy; and fying the ’ classification, this Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to (5) as of the date of enactment of this legislation puts us on a path towards join me in supporting H.R. 1138, and I Act— (A) how much has been spent on the dis- solving this issue by requiring a GAO reserve the balance of my time. posal of radioactive waste associated with report on the origins of and disposal b 1630 the demonstration project prescribed by sec- pathways, including cost estimates. tion 2(a) of the West Valley Demonstration In addition, the bill reauthorizes the Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield Project Act; and West Valley Demonstration Project at such time as he may consume to the (B) what volumes and types of radioactive $75 million annually for 7 years. This gentleman from New York (Mr. HIG- waste have been disposed of from the West- funding level is in line with historic ap- GINS), my colleague and friend from the ern New York Service Center. propriations levels and will ensure the 26th Congressional District. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- cleanup will continue on schedule. Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Mr. ant to the rule, the gentleman from This bill may not resolve the dec- Speaker, I rise in strong support of New York (Mr. TONKO) and the gen- ades-old dispute between New York and Congressman TOM REED’s bill, H.R. tleman from Illinois (Mr. SHIMKUS) the Department of Energy. It does ad- 1138, which authorizes funding for the each will control 20 minutes. dress funding for the remediation of cleanup of the West Valley demonstra- The Chair recognizes the gentleman the site and attempts to move the ball tion project, the nuclear waste remedi- from New York. forward to ensure that wastes are dis- ation site in western New York. GENERAL LEAVE posed of properly and, most impor- Mr. Speaker, advocates are in Wash- Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan- tantly, fairly. ington this week to remind Congress of imous consent that all Members may Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of the importance of the Great Lakes as a have 5 legislative days in which to re- my time. source of clean water for millions of vise and extend their remarks and in- Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield Americans. The long-term cleanup at clude extraneous material on H.R. 1138. myself such time as I may consume. West Valley, which sits 30 miles from The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1138, a bill to reau- Lake Erie and at the foot of a tribu- objection to the request of the gen- thorize the West Valley Demonstration tary stream, will prevent harmful con- tleman from New York? Project, was introduced recently by tamination to the region. There was no objection. our New York colleague, TOM REED. I The Department of Energy has an ob- Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- also see my good friend, BRIAN HIGGINS ligation to ensure that 600,000 gallons self such time as I may consume. on the floor, and I know the chairman of high-level radioactive waste are so- Mr. Speaker, last September, the has been personally involved with this lidified and disposed of safely and expe- House approved an identical bill, H.R. for many, many, many years. ditiously. The funding in this bill will 2389, in the 115th Congress, by a voice The House passed an essentially iden- allow us to do just that. vote. tical version of this bill this past Sep- Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to Unfortunately, that bill did not move tember on suspension. Prior to that support this bill. in the Senate. Today, we will recon- vote, the bipartisan legislation had Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield sider H.R. 1138, which has been reintro- moved through the Energy and Com- such time as he may consume to the duced by my New York colleague and merce Committee by regular order, in- gentleman from New York (Mr. REED), friend, Mr. REED. cluding a legislative hearing and mark- the author of the legislation. The Western New York Nuclear Serv- ups as part of our broader nuclear Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ice Center in West Valley, New York, agenda. It was re- gentleman from Illinois (Mr. SHIMKUS) has been the center of disputes and leg- ported by the full committee with a bi- for yielding me the time and his lead- islative actions since the 1980s. This partisan amendment by a voice vote. ership on this issue, as well as my good site is a difficult reminder that we are H.R. 1138 authorizes appropriations friends PAUL TONKO and BRIAN HIGGINS still dealing with the consequences of to support the Department of Energy’s for joining me in the effort today in re- our Nation’s entry into the atomic age. environmental remediation at its West gards to the West Valley Reauthoriza- While the site is owned by New York Valley cleanup site in New York tion Act before us. State, between 1966 and 1972 it was op- through 2026. It also directs a study to Obviously, Mr. Speaker, I rise in erated by a private business to reproc- help Congress determine the final dis- strong support of this legislation. This ess spent nuclear fuel primarily pro- position of radioactive waste that DOE legislation deals with the project lo- vided by the Federal Government. is cleaning up at the site. cated in our district in western New Those reprocessing activities ended H.R. 1138 continues the work of Con- York and the great community of West decades ago, but high-level waste and gress to address the Federal Govern- Valley. transuranic waste continue to be ment’s obligations for treatment and West Valley, New York, is the home stored at the site. disposal of the legacy waste produced of radioactive waste that has been dis- A cost-sharing agreement for the during the Cold War, and through the tributed there and deposited there over site’s remediation has been resolved, Federal Government’s early efforts to the years way back when. But I will but disposal of the waste remains a develop a civilian nuclear energy in- tell you, over the last 15 years, this point of contention. dustry. site has led the Nation, in my humble Since 1986, DOE has classified the The Department of Energy has suc- opinion, in coming up with techniques waste as commercial rather than waste cessfully remediated 92 sites of this and technologies that are deployed deriving from atomic energy defense waste, but the most technologically across other nuclear waste facilities activities. challenging projects remain in process and sites in order to handle that high- Under this classification, DOE be- at 17 locations, one of which is the level radioactive waste from those fa- lieves that the cost for disposal of the West Valley site. cilities as well as those in West Valley. wastes should be borne by the State of In 1980, Congress passed the West Mr. Speaker, I think it is only right New York. New York State believes Valley Demonstration Project Act to to bring further clarity and certainty that since 60 percent of the material direct DOE to address legacy environ- to our area of the district at West Val- sent to West Valley was from facilities mental issues and authorized appro- ley in regards to this bill, giving 7 that conducted defense activities, and priations only through fiscal year 1981. years’ worth of reauthorization legisla- 80 percent of the reprocessed plutonium The project has not been reauthorized tion, to send the signal that not only shipped out of West Valley was sent to since that time, despite Congress fund- do we stand and support the appropria- defense facilities, it should be cat- ing DOE’s work at the site for the past tions that go to this facility in order to egorized as defense-related waste. 37 years. clean it up in the most efficient and ef- This classification disagreement has H.R. 1138 corrects this situation, pro- fective manner, but, also, we stand as major consequences for how the waste vides a path to answering important authorizers to say that this type of fa- can be disposed of and who will be re- questions concerning the waste disposi- cility and this type of program needs

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:56 Mar 06, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A05MR7.006 H05MRPT1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with HOUSE H2332 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 5, 2019 to be renewed for at least 7 years be- H.R. 1381 360, who breathed in burn pit smoke cause, Mr. Speaker, it is going to take Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- while stationed in in many more years to clean this site up. resentatives of the United States of America in in 2007. When he returned home in Giving this site 7 years of that addi- Congress assembled, 2008, he needed immediate hospitaliza- tional certainty is the only right thing SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. tion for lung disease. to do in order to have these folks who This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Burn Pit Mr. Torres and other suf- are doing the hard work be given the Registry Enhancement Act’’. fering from medical conditions believed indications from Congress that we SEC. 2. BURN PIT REGISTRY UPDATES. to be caused by exposure to burn pits stand with them as they engage in this (a) INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO UPDATE.— are still fighting to receive healthcare effort. (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days and benefits because illnesses poten- after the date of the enactment of this Act, As I close, Mr. Speaker, I want to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take tially caused by burn pit exposure still thank the entire Energy and Commerce actions necessary to ensure that the burn pit aren’t recognized by the VA. Committee and Mr. SHIMKUS for his registry may be updated with the cause of Research to understand the harmful tireless work on the issue of nuclear death of a deceased registered individual effects these toxic substances may waste cleanup and standing with us on by— have had on military servicemembers this piece of legislation. (A) an individual designated by such de- is now underway. However, the totality In particular, Mr. Speaker, I would ceased registered individual; or of harmful health effects this dan- like to thank the local officials: the (B) if no such individual is designated, an gerous practice may have had on serv- immediate family member of such deceased icemembers is yet to be fully known town of Ashford supervisor, Charles registered individual. Davis; the West Valley deputy general (2) DESIGNATION.—The Secretary shall pro- and understood, and it may take years manager, Scott Anderson; and the vide, with respect to the burn pit registry, a for clinicians and scientists to under- other local leaders who have stood in a process by which a registered individual may stand the health effects or discover ef- community effort in order to bring this make a designation for purposes of para- fective treatments for those who were West Valley demonstration site to a graph (1)(A). exposed. complete closure, hopefully, in the (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: In an effort to better track the near future with the legislation that (1) The term ‘‘burn pit registry’’ means the health effects these exposures had on registry established under section 201 of the deployed troops, Congress required the we have before us. Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Bene- So I ask my colleagues to join in sup- fits Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law VA to create the open burn pit registry port of this legislation, and I truly ap- 112–260; 38 U.S.C. 527 note). in 2012 to compile self-reported data on preciate their efforts to join us today. (2) The term ‘‘immediate family member’’, veterans who believed they were ex- Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I urge with respect to a deceased individual, posed to open-air burn pits while serv- my colleagues to join me in supporting means— ing in Iraq and . H.R. 1138, and I yield back the balance (A) the spouse, parent, brother, sister, or This registry allows VA to easily of my time. adult child of the individual; communicate with this population of (B) an adult person to whom the individual veterans, as well as track trends within Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, West Val- stands in loco parentis; or ley, as an issue, has been there for a (C) any other adult person— the population that may indicate a long time. It is good to know that we (i) living in the household of the individual need for further research into certain are moving the ball forward. at the time of the death of the individual; health concerns. However, the registry Mr. Speaker, I encourage my col- and failed to provide, in it, the ability to leagues to support this measure, and I (ii) related to the individual by blood or report cause of death for veterans who yield back the balance of my time. marriage. are registered and then subsequently The SPEAKER pro tempore. The (3) The term ‘‘registered individual’’ means pass away. an individual registered with the burn pit Congressman RUIZ’s bill, the Burn question is on the motion offered by registry. the gentleman from New York (Mr. Pit Registry Enhancement Act, would The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- TONKO) that the House suspend the allow an individual designated by the ant to the rule, the gentleman from rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1138. during the registry process or California (Mr. TAKANO) and the gen- The question was taken; and (two- an immediate family member to up- tleman from Tennessee (Mr. DAVID P. thirds being in the affirmative) the date the veteran’s file on the registry ROE) each will control 20 minutes. rules were suspended and the bill was with a cause of death. The Chair recognizes the gentleman passed. These additional data will allow re- from California. A motion to reconsider was laid on searchers and the VA to identify Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield the table. trends, similarities, and correlations in myself as much time as I may con- this population that will better inform f sume. our research efforts on the impact Mr. Speaker, I, too, in celebration of these open-air burn pits have on the BURN PIT REGISTRY today say ‘‘laissez les bons temps ENHANCEMENT ACT servicemembers who served in combat rouler.’’ zones. GENERAL LEAVE Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support With the addition of more data to the Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask of H.R. 1381. burn pits registry, we hope this will unanimous consent that all Members During Operations Enduring Freedom help VA conduct groundbreaking re- may have 5 legislative days in which to and Iraqi Freedom and in other parts of search that will lead to prevention and revise and extend their remarks and to the world where American servicemem- treatments for toxic exposures, includ- insert extraneous material on H.R. bers were deployed, the Department of ing exposure to toxic substances ines- 1381. Defense exposed brave Americans to capably connected to military service. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there toxic fumes and dangerous chemicals Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of objection to the request of the gen- by burning waste in open-air burn pits. my time. tleman from California? Some of the waste burned in these Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. There was no objection. open-air pits were human waste, Speaker, I yield myself as much time Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to Styrofoam, lithium batteries, tires, as I may consume. suspend the rules and pass the bill medical waste, and other toxic sub- Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support (H.R. 1381) to direct the Secretary of stances. Servicemembers had no way to of H.R. 1381, the Burn Pit Registry En- Veterans Affairs to take actions nec- avoid inhaling the smoke from these hancement Act. essary to ensure that certain individ- burn pits that were located on their This bill is sponsored by Dr. RAUL uals may update the burn pit registry bases, sometimes right next to their RUIZ of California and Dr. BRAD with a registered individual’s cause of barracks. WENSTRUP of Ohio. Dr. RUIZ and Dr. death, and for other purposes. When this committee held a hearing WENSTRUP are medical professionals, The Clerk read the title of the bill. last year on burn pits, we heard from former members of the Committee on The text of the bill is as follows: Leroy Torres, the founder of Burn Pits Veterans’ Affairs, and co-chairs of the

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