Kucinich, in Oregon, Calls on Bush Administration to Restore EPA Superfund Trust
The following is a press release from April 22, 2004, by the Kucinich campaign
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Kucinich, in Oregon, Calls on Bush Administration to Restore EPA Superfund Trust
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2004
Contact: Matt Harris, (216) 403-3980, press@kucinich.us, Terre Lundy, (515) 988-5534
In a campaign stop on the banks of the Willamette River Tuesday, Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich praised Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski's plan to "repair, restore, and recreate" the river. "Nearly 2.5 million Oregonians -- seven out of ten residents of the state -- live within 20 miles of the Willamette River," said Kucinich. "They deserve a healthy river flowing through a healthy ecosystem. I commend Governor Kulongoski for making restoration of the Willamette River his top environmental priority."
Noting that the Willamette is among the most badly polluted rivers in the Pacific Northwest, Kucinich continued: "While the Governor's dedication to clean up the Willamette is laudable, it is indeed regrettable that the burden for this effort will fall on Oregon taxpayers who have not been responsible for creating the pollution in the first place.
"When he refused to push for renewal of the polluter-funded Superfund Trust in 1995, President Bush became the first president to oppose the principle that polluters should pay to clean up their messes since the Superfund toxic waste cleanup program was started in 1985. Now the Superfund is out of polluter-contributed money, leaving Oregonians who live near toxic-waste sites to pay not only with their health but with their tax dollars as well.
"Nationally, more than one in four Americans, including ten million children, lives within a short distance of a toxic waste site. This leaves millions of Americans at risk for increased cancer rates and other illnesses caused by exposure to toxic chemicals left behind by polluting corporations. I call upon the Bush Administration to once again require polluters to clean up abandoned toxic waste sites. This would place the burden of cleanup costs squarely back where it belongs."
For information about the National campaign: http://www.kucinich.us
For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.
To schedule an interview with Kucinich or a spokesperson: jonathans@kucinich.us
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