National Public Notification of Environmental Hazards Act of 2007

To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to improve public notification and community relations concerning actions for the removal of environmental hazards.

11/15/2007--Introduced.
National Public Notification of Environmental Hazards Act of 2007 - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to require the President to revise the national contingency plan to provide for improved public notification and community relations in the case of a response action.
Requires the head of the lead agency for a response action to:
(1) designate a spokesperson, who shall provide notice of the action, respond to inquiries, and provide information to the public;
(2) issue a press release within a specified time frame;
(3) ensure coordination of press releases and other statements;
(4) establish a public information office at or near the response site;
(5) establish at least one local information repository;
(6) make the administrative record file available for public inspection;
(7) provide a public comment period;
(8) conduct public meetings;
(9) establish a toll-free telephone number and a public Internet website;
(10) ensure that each residence and business within a half-mile radius of the response site is visited by a lead agency representative; and
(11) mail printed materials containing information about the removal action to such residences and businesses.
Directs the head:
(1) to take specified actions if the President determines, based on a site evaluation, that an action is appropriate and the head determines that a planning period of at least 180 days exists prior to initiation of on-site activities, including making the engineering evaluation and cost analysis available to the public; and
(2) for actions lasting more than 120 days, to interview local officials, community residents, and specified others about their concerns, information needs, and how they would like to be involved and prepare a formal community relations plan.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Christopher Smith [R, NJ-4]
• and 2 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Steve Cohen [D, TN-9]
  • Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
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Committees

• House Transportation and Infrastructure
• 3 more
  • House Energy and Commerce
  • House Transportation and Infrastructure
  • House Energy and Commerce
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Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.4196

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
November 15, 2007

Show All Actions (6 actions)Hide Actions

All Bill Actions

• Nov 16, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
• Nov 15, 2007: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
• Nov 15, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials.
• Nov 15, 2007: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
• Nov 15, 2007: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 on Nov 15, 2007.

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Related Issue Areas:

• Telephone
• Telecommunication
• Technology
• Solid wastes
• 16 more
• Public meetings
• Politics and government
• Liability for environmental damages
• Law
• Hazardous wastes
• Government publicity
• Government publications
• Government information
• Executive reorganization
• Executive departments
• Environmental protection
• Electronic government information
• Cost accounting
• Citizen participation
• Budgets
• Hazardous substances

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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Blog Coverage

November 14, 2007 HR 4196, To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response ...

HR 4196 would amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to improve public notification and community relations concerning actions for the removal of environmental hazards. ...

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