THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY GOODMAN, BARBIN, BELFANTI, CALTAGIRONE, DALEY, DeLUCA, GEORGE, HENNESSEY, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAHONEY, MURPHY, MURT, MUSTIO, O'NEILL, READSHAW AND SIPTROTH, MAY 26, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, MAY 26, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Memorializing the United States Environmental Protection Agency

to require all of its regional offices to enforce uniformly

the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act so that

all hazardous waste reclamation companies operate on a level

economic playing field.

WHEREAS, The reclamation of hazardous waste is important to

protecting the environment because it enables the reuse of

hazardous waste as commercial products rather than having to

dispose of it; and

WHEREAS, The reclamation of hazardous waste also contributes

to the economic well-being of this Commonwealth by providing

jobs in reclamation facilities; and

WHEREAS, The business of hazardous waste reclamation is

highly regulated under the Federal Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act, which is enforced by the United States

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its regional

offices throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, World Resources Company of McLean, Virginia,

operates a hazardous waste reclamation facility near Pottsville,

Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in EPA Region Three that has 50

employees, has a valid EPA permit and has been operating in full

compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and

regulations for the purpose of reclaiming F006 hazardous waste

and related materials to produce metal concentrates that are

sold as a commercial product to primary smelters in

international markets; and

WHEREAS, In complying with the Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act and regulations, World Resources Company incurs

financially significant costs for equipment inspection and

maintenance, personnel training, container and tank

requirements, waste testing and analysis, groundwater

monitoring, liability insurance and closure plans; and

WHEREAS, World Resources Company contributes a combined

economic impact of more than $50 million to Schuylkill County

and the adjacent area through employment and the purchase of

local goods and services, including use of the Reading and

Northern Railroad; and

WHEREAS, EPA Region Five has, in Ohio, allowed a significant

variance from the hazardous waste reclamation law and

regulations that World Resources Company is obliged to meet,

considerably lessening the requirement in Ohio for equipment

inspection and maintenance, personnel training, container and

tank requirements, waste testing and analysis, groundwater

monitoring, liability insurance and closure plans; and

WHEREAS, The EPA's lack of uniform Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act enforcement in Ohio provides a great economic

advantage to hazardous waste reclamation companies located there

and unfairly places World Resources Company at a considerable

disadvantage in selling its services and products; and

WHEREAS, The unfair enforcement of the Resource Conservation

and Recovery Act in Ohio is inflicting a serious negative impact

on World Resources Company that jeopardizes continued employment

and workloads at the Pottsville plant; and

WHEREAS, The continued inequity in the administration of the

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in Ohio is needlessly

detrimental to the economy of Schuylkill County and

Pennsylvania; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the United States

Environmental Protection Agency to remove expeditiously the

variance in hazardous waste reclamation law enforcement now

allowed in Ohio and to take whatever action is needed to ensure

that hazardous waste reclamation companies throughout the

country operate under uniform rules and environmental protection

standards; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator of the United States

Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building, 1200

Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460.