RESOLUTION No. 36204

Support the United States Congress and the President to restore the Superfund tax on petroleum and hazardous chemical manufacturers in 2004 (Resolution)

WHEREAS, 70 million Americans, including ten million children, live within four miles of a Superfund toxic waste site; and

WHEREAS, Oregon currently has 11 designated Superfund cleanup sites, including Portland Harbor, McCormick & Baxter, Reynolds Metals, Northwest Pipe and Casing, and Harbor Oil in the Portland Metro Area; and

WHEREAS, the City of Portland has initiated a major, integrated River Renaissance program to restore a clean and healthy Lower Willamette River while meeting other important objectives; and

WHEREAS, the City of Portland is actively participating in and funding a comprehensive assessment of the contaminants and potential remedies to accelerate the cleanup of the Portland Harbor superfund site in the Lower Willamette; and

WHEREAS, a healthy Willamette River is critical to Oregon’s livability, environment and economy; and

WHEREAS, birth defects, infertility, respiratory problems, and other serious health conditions have impacted numerous Americans living near Superfund toxic waste sites; and

WHEREAS, fewer and fewer Superfund sites are being cleaned up each year, the number having plummeted to an average of 42 cleanups per year from 2001 to 2004 from an average of 87 clean ups per year during the four previous years; and

WHEREAS, American taxpayers are now being required to pay for most of the cleanups of the Superfund sites for which no responsible party can be found; and

WHEREAS, the Superfund tax on petroleum and hazardous chemical manufacturers expired in1995 and would provide an estimated $1.7 billion a year to clean up these sites;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Portland urges the United States Congress and the President to replenish the Superfund with a tax on petroleum and hazardous chemical manufacturers rather than on income taxpayers. This adheres more closely to the principle of “polluter pays” and that responsible parties should pay the cost of Superfund cleanup.

Adopted by the Council: March 10, 2004      GARY BLACKMER

           Auditor of the City of Portland

Commissioner Dan Saltzman        By: /S/ Susan Parsons

Brendan C. Finn 03/10/2004              Deputy

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 230-2004

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 36204