Washington D.C. —
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) announced today he has been selected to chair the Subcommittee on Superfund and Waste Management. This position is part of Senator Thune’s responsibilities as a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee.
“It’s a distinct honor as a freshman Senator to receive this Chairmanship,” said Thune. “This is a great position from which to preserve South Dakota’s environmental resources and agricultural way of life. I’m eager to roll up my sleeves as Chairman and get to work for the people of South Dakota.”
As Chairman of the Superfund and Waste Management Subcommittee, Senator Thune will be able to address important issues relating to South Dakota’s agriculture and mining industries. The 109th Congress will continue to consider legislation regarding pesticide and insecticide use, production, and export. Regulations on the application of such chemicals affect the livelihood of South Dakota farmers, the quality of our drinking water, and competition with overseas producers. Additionally, Thune’s oversight of Superfund is crucial to the remediation of abandoned mine lands in the Northern Black Hills.
The subcommittee has jurisdiction over environmental issues such as recycling, brownfields (pollution sites) and oversees the management of Superfund, a multi-billion dollar trust fund created to clean up hazardous waste sites. South Dakota contains a number of current and potential brownfield sites that, if neutralized, could provide a boost to the local economy and development. As Chairman of the subcommittee, Senator Thune will oversee the enforcement of several other federal environmental measures such as the Pollution Prevention Act and the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
“It’s a distinct honor as a freshman Senator to receive this Chairmanship,” said Thune. “This is a great position from which to preserve South Dakota’s environmental resources and agricultural way of life. I’m eager to roll up my sleeves as Chairman and get to work for the people of South Dakota.”
As Chairman of the Superfund and Waste Management Subcommittee, Senator Thune will be able to address important issues relating to South Dakota’s agriculture and mining industries. The 109th Congress will continue to consider legislation regarding pesticide and insecticide use, production, and export. Regulations on the application of such chemicals affect the livelihood of South Dakota farmers, the quality of our drinking water, and competition with overseas producers. Additionally, Thune’s oversight of Superfund is crucial to the remediation of abandoned mine lands in the Northern Black Hills.
The subcommittee has jurisdiction over environmental issues such as recycling, brownfields (pollution sites) and oversees the management of Superfund, a multi-billion dollar trust fund created to clean up hazardous waste sites. South Dakota contains a number of current and potential brownfield sites that, if neutralized, could provide a boost to the local economy and development. As Chairman of the subcommittee, Senator Thune will oversee the enforcement of several other federal environmental measures such as the Pollution Prevention Act and the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).