Browner response to Rep. Hefley (R)

[Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@igc.org>]

 What follows is the first letter which is Carol Browner's response
 to Rep. Joel Hefley.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------
 March 20, 1995

 The Honorable Joel Hefley
 Chairman, Subcommittee on
 Military Installations
 Committee on National Security
 House of Representatives
 Washington D.C. 20515

 Dear Mr.Chairman:

 Administrator Browner has asked me to respond to your letter of
 February 7, 1995, advising her of your views concerning the budget
 prospects for the Defense Restoration Account (DERA), and of your
 particular concerns relating to the cleanup of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal
 (RMA).

 EPA is, of course, concerned about the prospects for further
 reductions in DERA funding. DERA funds the Department of Defense (DOD)'s
 mandate to characterize and clean up some of the United States' most highly
 contaminated areas. These areas, created by decades of military
 activities, directly threaten the health and environment of base personnel
 as well as those on nearby communities.

 Delay of projects because of DERA funding cuts has its own costs.
 While cleanup projects are delayed, the contamination to be cleaned up is
 likely to spread, thereby increasing future costs as more groundwater,
 surface water or soil has to be remediated. We are also concerned that
 there is a corresponding increased potential for exposure to contamination
 for base personnel, their families and members of adjacent communities.

 With regards to RMA, all parties involved at the site are cognizant
 that the cost of restoration will be in the billions of dollars. Although
 RMA is only one facility funded by DERA, the volume and extent of
 contamination are greater than most, if not all, of DOD's installations.

 Contamination from the Arsenal has caused unacceptable risks to
 human health and the environment. Contaminants continue to kill wildlife
 on the Arsenal. There are several areas with concentrated toxins creating
 unacceptable risks of cancer to wildlife workers. If unabated, pollution
 in surface soils would continue to affect wildlife and prevent future
 visitors from using a large portion of the future National Wildlife Refuge,
 the Congressionally-authorized future use of the RMA. Ground water is
 contaminated over many square miles, on-post and off-post. In addition to
 direct site threats, RMA's environmental problems have depressed property
 values and economic development in the adjacent communities.

 Recognizing these threats and economic concerns, EPA Region VIII,
 the Army, the State of Colorado, and Shell Oil Company have worked together
 over the past several years to pioneer multiple Interim Response Actions
 which have allowed for some early cleanup actions before all studies at the
 Arsenal have been completed. All parties agree that much has been at the
 Arsenal to initially protect human health and the environment. However,
 nearly all of the on-site soil remediation remains to be done.

 The current negotiations referred to in your letter grew out of
 informal efforts by the parties to reach early consensus on addressing the
 remaining contamination not handled by earlier work. These discussions
 have been, and continue to be useful for evaluating potential remedial
 technologies, clarifying each party's positions, and facilitating extensive
 stakeholder input. It is EPA's hope and expectation that the current
 exercise will inform, guide and expedite the formal remedy selection
 process.

 Congress has mandated that the selection of a remedy at any
 Superfund site (including RMA) be based on consideration of the full
 applicable and relevant and appropriate laws and regulations, treatment to
 the maximum extent practicable, community and state acceptability, as well
 as cost effectiveness. I assure you that the cost effectiveness of the
 remedy will continue to be factored into the decisions affecting RMA.

 Cleanup activities at the Arsenal will require a large commitment
 of resources. EPA is committed to ensuring that the remedy selected is
 protective of human health and the environment while also making wise and
 efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

 Please feel free to contact me at (202)260-4610 or our Regional
 Administrator, Bill Yellowtail, at (303)293-1616, if you have any
 additional questions.

 Sincerely,
 Elliot P. Laws
 Assistant Administrator