DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT UPDATE

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

MORE ON DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL

I've obtained copies of the environmental provisions of the Fiscal 
Year Defense Authorization Bill. There is one area of concern that I 
had not previously reported.

Section 325 would cut off Defense Department funding for the 
preparation of toxicological profiles by the Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry, an arm of the Department of Health 
and Human Services, as well as money provided to the 
Environmental Protection Agency for the preparation of health 
advisories. The Defense Department would still be responsible for 
providing data and personnel in support of these two tasks, which 
apply specifically to hazardous materials found on military 
installations.

In addition, the actual language clarifies the arbitrary limit on studies 
that I reported previously. Section 326 says:

"It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should 
make every effort to limit, by the end of fiscal year 1997, spending 
for administration, support, studies, and investigations associated 
with the Defense Environmental Restoration Account to 20 percent of 
the total funding for that account."

Finally, Congressman Marty Meehan (D-Massachusetts) proposed an amendment
to put back the "fence" around DERA, but the Republican-controlled Rules
Committee will not let it - and many other worthy amendments reach the House floor.

Lenny Siegel