WASHINGTON, DC - The Environment and the Economy Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), today held a hearing examining the implementation of the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act. The Energy and Commerce Committee helped usher the bill into law during the 112th Congress to modernize the dated paper manifest system that tracked the type and quantity of hazardous waste being transported to a modern electronic based system. EPA asked for three years to get the system up and running and Congress authorized the money to make this happen. To date the system is not operational.
Chairman Shimkus expressed his concerns with the time it has taken EPA to implement the system, saying, “Three weeks ago, yesterday, marked three years from the date of enactment of the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Act. But, the system is not ready for “prime time." We need full accounting of what EPA has been doing and what still needs to be done. Ultimately, we need to know why it’s taking so long, why it’s costing so much, and when, if EPA does get its requested funding, will this system actually be usable."
EPA has expressed a willingness to see the project get across the finish line. Mr. Barnes Johnson, Director of Resource Conservation and Recovery and the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response at EPA said, “The EPA continues to make progress on developing a hazardous waste electronic manifest system. The EPA appreciates the support of Congress in enacting legislation to authorize development… and looks forward to continued support to allow for further development and completion. We are committed to keeping Congress informed of our progress."
Chairman Shimkus concluded, “If this system is going to survive, it’s up to the agency to help us get to the bottom of what is going on here and, if merited, make the case that e-Manifest’s launch needs further authorization and more funding."
