O P E N I N G S T A T E M E N T
Senator Jim Inhofe
EPA Budget Hearing
February 23, 2000

Ms. Browner, since this is probably your last hearing before this Committee, I wanted to spend just a few to review some of the environmental issues over the last seven years, as we in Congress take a hard look at your budget for Fiscal Year 2001.

On Superfund:

In 1993, President Clinton announced in his State of the Union speech that the Superfund program was broken. Legislation was necessary

In 1995, The administration said legislation was no longer necessary, and you announced the "Polluter Pays Principle" Although you failed to explain that you didn't have to actually be a Superfund polluter to pay, you just need a deep pocket.

In 1996, You took credit for all of the cleanups that occurred during the Reagan/Bush years.

In 1999, You began looking for excuses as to why cleanups have actually slowed down in the 90's. On Enforcement

In 1993, The Administration announced consolidation of the Compliance groups out of the Program Offices and into one large Enforcement and Compliance Office for better coordination.

You announced no more bean counting. In 1999, While the Air Office has spent the last 6 years rewriting the New Source Review regulations because they are unclear; apparently in a well coordinated effort the you and Janet Reno announced lawsuits using the same old unclear regulations.

This year, The EPA Enforcement Office announced that the beans were up in every enforcement category.

On the EPA Budget:

Over the last several years you have decried the so-called "Congressional earmarks" for specific programs around the country, including the full-funding of Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund.

In 1999 and this year, You requested $100 million for the Clean Air Partnership Trust Fund Slush Fund for undefined specific programs around the country.

On Lawsuits:
For NRDC v. EPA
EDF v. EPA
Sierra Club v. EPA
The EPA settled lawsuits, and entered into consent agreements,

For American Truckers Assoc v. EPA
Michigan v. EPA
Appalachian Powers v. EPA
You announced that the EPA would fight the cases all the way to the Supreme Court.

A Final Note On The EPA Budget and The President's State Of The Union

Finally, last month during the State of the Union, President Clinton said we have proved that you can grow the economy and clean up the environment at the same time.

I agree. However, your Agency is trying to prove otherwise.

Your enforcement office has filed lawsuits against industry for alleged Clean Air Permit violations, saying that over 95% of companies have violated their permits. They have been threatened with hundreds of millions in fines. These violations affect not only the utilities and refiners, but also the telecommunications industry, computer industry, and traditional manufacturers, the backbone of our thriving economy.

The number one piece of evidence you enforcement office is using is the production growth over the last ten years, which is our strong economy. Where most people see economic growth, your enforcement people see targets for fines.

You can't have it both ways. If your enforcement people are right, then you and President Clinton are wrong, and future economic growth will be jeopardized.