PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 307.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 17, 1995
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Land Withdrawal Amendment Act - Amends the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Land Withdrawal Act (WIPP Act) to remove certain provisions relating to: (1) a test phase; (2) requirements for the commencement of disposal operations; and (3) disposal regulations. Requires periodic compliance review (currently, periodic compliance recertification) by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Declares that the Secretary of Energy should determine whether engineered or natural barriers, or both, will be required. (Current law requires that the Secretary use both engineered and natural barriers and waste form modifications.) Exempts transuranic mixed waste designated for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) project from the land disposal restrictions in specified Federal regulations. Removes certain provisions: (1) relating to determination of noncompliance during the disposal and decommissioning phases; and (2) declaring that the authorities provided to the Administrator and the State (under provisions relating to compliance with environmental laws and regulations) are in addition to the enforcement authorities available to the State under State law and to the Administrator, the State, and any other person under the Solid Waste Disposal Act and the Clean Air Act. Replaces provisions relating to retrievability with provisions declaring that it is the intent of the Congress that a decision will be made by the Secretary regarding the disposal of transuranic waste no later than a specified date. Removes provisions: (1) mandating a plan for the decommissioning of WIPP; and (2) setting a deadline for a plan for the management and use of the Withdrawal (the WIPP withdrawal site) following WIPP decommissioning or termination of the land withdrawal. Authorizes appropriations to the State of New Mexico (currently, to the Secretary for payments to the State of New Mexico) for 15 fiscal years beginning on the date of enactment of the WIPP Act (currently, beginning in the first fiscal year in which the transport of transuranic waste to WIPP is initiated). Declares that an appropriation to the State shall be in addition to any appropriation for WIPP. Allows WIPP to receive transuranic waste from the Secretary that did not result from a defense activity.
People & committees
Rep. Skeen, Joe [R-NM-2] · R–NM
Legislative record
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Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 307.
Committee on National Security discharged.
Committee on National Security discharged.
House Committee on National Security Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than June 14, 1996.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Commerce. H. Rept. 104-540, Part I.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Commerce. H. Rept. 104-540, Part I.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Installations and Facilities.
Executive Comment Requested from DOE.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on National Security, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on National Security, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on National Security, 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.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Jun 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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