Preparing Superfund for Climate Change Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2893
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2019-11-19
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Air quality

Atmospheric science and weather

Climate change and greenhouse gases

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Environmental health

Government trust funds

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Natural disasters

Pollution liability
Latest action: action_date: 2019-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-11-19
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Preparing Superfund for Climate Change Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill requires the consideration of factors related to climate change when selecting remedial actions for the cleanup of Superfund sites (sites contaminated with hazardous substances). Specifically, the potential threat to human health and the environment associated with local natural disasters and extreme weather hazards, including those exacerbated by climate change, must be taken into account when selecting remedial actions. </p> <p>Under current law, some remedial actions result in hazardous substances remaining at the site, so there must be a review every five years to assure that human health and the environment are being protected. The bill requires such review to include an assessment of whether the selected remedial action remains protective after taking into account local natural disasters and extreme weather hazards, including those exacerbated by climate change.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2893 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 19, 2019 Mr. Schumer (for Ms. Harris ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to provide for the consideration of climate change, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preparing Superfund for Climate Change Act of 2019 . 2. Climate change mitigation Section 121 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 9621 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(1), in the fifth sentence— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking account: and inserting account— ; (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking and at the end; (C) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (D) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following: (H) the potential threat to human health and the environment associated with local natural disasters and extreme weather hazards, including any projected exacerbation or change in those disasters and hazards due to climate change. ; and (2) in subsection (c), by inserting after the first sentence the following: The President shall include in the review an assessment of whether the selected remedial action remains protective after taking into account local natural disasters and extreme weather hazards, including any projected exacerbation or change in those disasters and hazards due to climate change. .