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.
“ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Senate section on pages S10301 on Oct. 1, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT FOR
FISCAL YEAR 1998
Mr. ASHCROFT. I would like to make a statement regarding the transfer of FUSRAP to the Army Corps of Engineers.
Mr. President, yesterday I cast a vote in favor of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Conference Report for FY 1998 with hesitation. Missouri has a major FUSRAP site in St. Louis which contains nuclear contamination from the Manhattan project and other hazardous waste. For 15 years we have worked with the Department of Energy to clean up this site. During such time I have expressed concern over the delays but in just the past 2 weeks we have come to the point where DOE has begun preliminary cleanup efforts. Given this recent progress, the news of the FUSRAP program's transfer out of DOE has, quite understandably, caused a great deal of distress in the St. Louis community. While I am not questioning the corps' ability to handle the FUSRAP project, concern has been expressed that further delays will be caused by the transfer and undo much of the recent progress.
With site recommendations already made, feasibility studies concluded, and contracts let, it is encouraging that the corps will honor the preliminary groundwork laid by the St. Louis community. The plan designed by the community further illustrates their ability to continue to administer the program from St. Louis. Further, I was pleased to learn that the cleanup and restoration of contaminated sites falling within the purview of FUSRAP shall be managed and executed by the St. Louis area Civil Works District of the Corps of Engineers, ensuring that the local community will continue to be very involved in designing cleanup plans at the FUSRAP site and effectively maintain community input in the process.
____________________
