Military Environmental Responsibility Act

Bill: 111-hr-672
Sponsor: Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51]
Introduced: 2009-01-26 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Government liability
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Intergovernmental relations
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Pollution liability
Radioactive wastes and releases
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-26
text: Military Environmental Responsibility Act - Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and defense-related agencies (the Department of Energy [DOE], the Nuclear Regulatory Commission [NRC], the Office of Naval Nuclear Reactors, and any others as designated by the President) to fully comply with designated federal and state environmental laws, including those related to public health and safety, to the same extent as any other entities subject to such laws. Waives any immunity of the United States with respect to such laws as applied to DOD and any defense-related agency. Provides for administrative enforcement actions. 
Requires the Secretary of Defense, for each weapon system for which congressional budget justification is required, to ensure that all development and procurement decisions comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. 
Repeals: (1) a federal provision prohibiting the use of certain military appropriation accounts for the payment of fines and penalties for environmental noncompliance; and (2) a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 which prohibits the use of defense funds to conduct treatment, storage, or disposal activities at sites designated under the Formerly Utilized Site Remedial Action Program.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
action_date: 2009-01-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E159)
action_date: 2009-01-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2009-01-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2009-01-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2009-01-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-01-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2009-01-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2009-01-26
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-01-26
text: Referred to House Natural Resources
action_date: 2009-01-26
text: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
action_date: 2009-01-26
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-01-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Natural Resources, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-01-26
text: Referred to House Armed Services
action_date: 2009-01-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-26
text: Introduced in House