Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 9, 1995 TAG: 9508090067
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BALTIMORE LENGTH: Medium
Framed by the waters and smoke-belching factories of Baltimore Harbor, Clinton told local leaders Tuesday that the nation's battle for clean air and water was at risk because ``there are people who want to strip away decades of public health.''
``I intend to fight them every step of the way,'' he said.
Clinton said a House vote last week to slow environmental protection efforts across the board - including a provision to limit if not eliminate pollution-reporting requirements - was a result of ``the pressure of lobbyists for those who have a vested financial interest in seeing that happen.''
``The budget bill they passed would cut environmental enforcement by 50 percent'' and would ``virtually bring to a halt the federal enforcement of the Clean Water Act and toxic waste cleanups,'' Clinton said.
In one of 18 actions, the House voted to restrict the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce a decade-old ``right-to-know'' law that requires 23,000 manufacturing facilities to issue annual reports on emissions of 651 chemicals on an EPA list.
Arguing that the many EPA regulations are unnecessary and overly bureaucratic, House Republicans voted to prevent the EPA from adding chemicals to the list or expanding the number of industries covered by the law.
Republicans also directed that no money be spent by the EPA to require manufacturers to report their use of toxic chemicals in production.
Clinton's executive order ensures that the disclosure law will still apply - but only to companies holding or seeking government contracts.
One major business group called the executive order political and excessive, while an environmental advocate questioned whether Clinton would follow his words with strong action.
The House action could be reversed by the Senate, and Clinton has promised to veto the EPA bill if it includes the ``right-to-know'' restrictions.
by CNB