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“SA 5239. Mr. FRIST (for Mr. Smith) proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 798, to provide for a research program for remediation of closed methampheta” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the in the Senate section section on page S11801 on Dec. 8, 2006.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SA 5239. Mr. FRIST (for Mr. Smith) proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 798, to provide for a research program for remediation of closed methamphetamine production laboratories, and for other purposes; as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2006''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) methamphetamine use and production is growing rapidly throughout the United States;
(2) some materials and chemical residues remaining from the production of methamphetamine pose novel environmental problems in locations in which methamphetamine laboratories have been closed;
(3) there has been little standardization of measures for determining when the site of a former methamphetamine laboratory has been successfully remediated;
(4)(A) initial cleanup actions are generally limited to removal of hazardous substances and contaminated materials that pose an immediate threat to public health or the environment; and
(B) it is not uncommon for significant levels of contamination to be found throughout residential structures in which methamphetamine has been manufactured, partially because of a lack of knowledge of how to achieve an effective cleanup;
(5)(A) data on methamphetamine laboratory-related contaminants of concern are very limited;
(B) uniform cleanup standards do not exist; and
(C) procedures for sampling and analysis of contaminants need to be researched and developed; and
(6) many States are struggling with establishing assessment and remediation guidelines and programs to address the rapidly expanding number of methamphetamine laboratories being closed each year.
SEC. 3. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES.
(a) Establishment of Voluntary Guidelines.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
(referred to in this Act as the ``Administrator''), in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall establish voluntary guidelines, based on the best available scientific knowledge, for the remediation of former methamphetamine laboratories, including guidelines regarding preliminary site assessment and the remediation of residual contaminants.
(b) Considerations.--In developing the voluntary guidelines under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider, at a minimum--
(1) relevant standards, guidelines, and requirements found in Federal, State, and local laws (including regulations);
(2) the varying types and locations of former methamphetamine laboratories; and
(3) the expected cost of carrying out any proposed guidelines.
(c) States.--
(1) In general.--The voluntary guidelines should be designed to assist State and local governments in the development and the implementation of legislation and other policies to apply state-of-the-art knowledge and research results to the remediation of former methamphetamine laboratories.
(2) Adoption.--The Administrator shall work with State and local governments and other relevant non-Federal agencies and organizations, including through the conference described in section 5, to promote and encourage the appropriate adoption of the voluntary guidelines.
(d) Updating the Guidelines.--The Administrator shall periodically update the voluntary guidelines as the Administrator, in consultation with States and other interested parties, determines to be appropriate to incorporate research findings and other new knowledge.
SEC. 4. RESEARCH PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish a program of research to support the development and revision of the voluntary guidelines described in section 3.
(b) Research.--The research shall--
(1) identify methamphetamine laboratory-related chemicals of concern;
(2) assess the types and levels of exposure to chemicals of concern identified under paragraph (1), including routine and accidental exposures, that may present a significant risk of adverse biological effects;
(3) identify the research efforts necessary to better address biological effects and to minimize adverse human exposures;
(4) evaluate the performance of various methamphetamine laboratory cleanup and remediation techniques; and
(5) support other research priorities identified by the Administrator, in consultation with States and other interested parties.
SEC. 5. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CONFERENCE.
(a) Conference.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act and at least every third year thereafter, the Administrator shall convene a conference of appropriate State agencies, individuals, and organizations involved in research and other activities directly relating to the environmental or biological impacts of former methamphetamine laboratories.
(2) Forum.--The conference should be a forum for--
(A) the Administrator to provide information on the guidelines developed under section 3 and on the latest findings from the research program described in section 4; and
(B) non-Federal participants to provide information on the problems and needs of States and localities and their experience with guidelines developed under section 3.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of each conference, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that summarizes the proceedings of the conference, including a summary of any recommendations or concerns raised by the non-Federal participants in that conference and how the Administrator intends to respond to the recommendations or concerns.
(2) Public availability.--The Administrator shall make each report widely available to the general public.
SEC. 6. RESIDUAL EFFECTS STUDY.
(a) Study.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall offer to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct a study of the status and quality of research on the residual effects of methamphetamine laboratories.
(b) Content.--The study shall identify research gaps and recommend an agenda for the research program described in section 4, with particular attention to the need for research on the impacts of methamphetamine laboratories on--
(1) the residents of buildings in which such laboratories are, or were, located, with particular emphasis given to biological impacts on children; and
(2) first responders.
(c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of completion of the study, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report describing the manner in which the Administrator will use the results of the study to carry out the activities described in sections 3 and 4.
SEC. 7. METHAMPHETAMINE DETECTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.
The Director of National Institute of Standards and Technology, in consultation with the Administrator, shall support a research program to develop--
(1) new methamphetamine detection technologies, with emphasis on field test kits and site detection; and
(2) appropriate standard reference materials and validation procedures for methamphetamine detection testing.
SEC. 8. SAVINGS CLAUSE.
Nothing in this Act modifies or otherwise affects the regulatory authority of the Environmental Protection Agency.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Environmental Protection Agency.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this Act
$1,750,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 and 2008.
(b) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to carry out this Act $750,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 and 2008.
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SA 5240. Mr. SPECTER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4055, to address the effect of the death of a defendant in Federal criminal proceedings; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; as follows:
At the appropriate place add the following:
Section 296 of title 28, United States Code, is amended
``However a senior judge designated and assigned to the court to which he was appointed shall have all the powers of a judge of that court, including participation in appointment of court officers, magistrates rulemaking, governance, and administrative matters.''
SEC. 44. SENIOR JUDGE PARTICIPATION IN THE SELECTION OF
MAGISTRATES.
Section 631(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking ``Northern Mariana Islands'' the first place it appears and inserting ``Northern Mariana Islands (including any judge in regular active service and any judge who has retired from regular active service under Section 371(b) of this title if such judge is designated and assigned to the court to which such judge was appointed.
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