The Nation - News from Sept. 19, 1985

Sen. Steven D. Symms (R-Ida.) urged the Senate to slash the $7.5 billion proposed for a five-year extension of the Superfund program, charging it was more than needed for an effective toxic waste cleanup. Symms said Congress should listen to Environmental Protection Agency officials who said the agency could effectively spend no more than $5.3 billion over the next five years. “It makes no sense to make more money available than can be prudently used,” Symms said. He called for a reduction to $5.7 billion as the Senate moved toward amendments to the Superfund bill. The current program will expire Sept. 30.