Date: 1992-05-27
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. title 27 would be the Insular Areas Energy Security Act. It Includes most of the provisions reported by the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee to address the unique energyrelated problems of the insular areas for which the United States has special responsibilities. The energy situations of these eight Caribbean and Pacific island groups are different from those of the States. For example. in some cases insular power systemslike insular Infrastructure In generalare so underdeveloped that the quality of life is less than that which most Americans enjoy. the health of individuals Is Imperiled. and the economic development that the areas need is impeded. Insular areas often cannot benefit from economies of scale. are distant from supplies. and cannot link into other power systems. They are almost totally dependent upon imported oil as well as ocean shipping of it and are extremely vulnerable to increases in oil prices. Our islands have an abundance of potential energy created by the sun. thewind. and the ocean. But they lack the resources needed to tap this potential. They also lack political and economic power. and are treated inequitably under some programs. Yet. they have relatively greater social needs than the States. Insular areas face different environmental circumstances and pollution problems than the U.S. mainland. Federal actions have left a legacy of lingering problems of nuclear contamination and toxic wastes in some islands. Section 2702 would update the existing authorization for projects to reduce insular dependence upon Imported oil and maximize use of indigenous renewable resources. It would expand the authorizationwhich relates to projects identified in a 1982 report by the Energy Departmentto include any projects that meet the laws objectives. Section 2703 would expand the ban on consideration of the Marshall Islands as a site for nuclear waste disposal to all of the insular areas. consistent with the law that requires specific congressional approval for the storage of nuclear waste in the United States and U.S.-administered insular areas. Section 2704 would require the Interior Department to plan how to develop the electrical system of Palau. Including meeting any related obligations. in consultation with the government of the islands. It is consistent with our Nations responsibility to develop this trust territory. Although the United States has had this obligation for 45 years. some people in the islands do not have electricity at all and others only have it for part of the day. Further. Palau faces substantial claims related to its primary power facilities acquired in a bad and corrupt deal made possible by the actions of some Federal officials. Section 2705 would reinstate the eligibility of the Marshall Islands and Micronesia for cleanup of PCBs brought into the islands in power equipment installed during the United States trusteeship. An issue that would have been addressed by another one of the provisions reported by the Interior and Insular Affairs Committeeinsular access to oil during shortagesis addressed. as I explained eadier. by section 1404 of the bill under a compromise between the Interior- and Insular Affairs and Energy and Commerce Committees. The intent and. background of the insular provisions of this bill are further explained in the report of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee. As chairman of the Insular and International Affairs Subcommittee. I want to express my appreciation for the leadership of the chairman of the full committee. GEORGE MILLER. and not the support of my fellow Representatives of the insular areas. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA. ANTONIO COLORADO. and BEN BLAZ. on them. Finally. I urge my colleagues to accept this title and the House to approve this bill.