
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 2, 1994                   TAG: 9404020166
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                                LENGTH: Short

WARNER SAYS SUPERFUND NEEDS MAJOR OVERHAUL

U.S. Sen. John Warner says the toxic waste cleanup program known as Superfund "is a bad law," but he said political realities could hinder any major reform.

Only about 10 senators are willing to "tackle the tough issues" posed by Superfund, Warner said Thursday at a town meeting.

Superfund is up for renewal this year, and Warner, R-Va. and a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said changes are needed.

"Congress should raise its hand and plead guilty," he said. "We have written a law which, in my judgment, is a bad law."

About two dozen people, mostly owners of small businesses, spoke at the meeting, and many complained that Superfund is punishing them for the mistakes of others.

The law was passed in 1980 in response to New York's Love Canal toxic pollution disaster that destroyed an entire neighborhood.

The idea was to charge chemical companies a special tax and use the money to clean up contaminated sites. But the law has not solved the problem. Part of the reason, Warner said, is that in 1980, Congress figured there were only 50 to 100 sites that needed the Superfund.

The number now is more than 1,200 and growing. The program has cost $15 billion, and only about 160 sites have been cleaned.

by CNB