S-978                 _______________________________________________

                                          SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 8003

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                                                               Passed Legislature - 1990 Reg.

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Conner, Bender, Madsen, DeJarnatt and Murray

Read first time 1/23/89 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act, found at section 306(i) of the Public Rail Passenger Service Act (45 U.S.C. Sec. 546(i)) exempts the practice of the roadway dumping of holding tanks by AMTRAK from state control; and

          WHEREAS, This dumping creates both a health and safety problem for railway employees and others who use the railroad right of way; and

          WHEREAS, This problem can be solved by AMTRAK installing holding tanks for all waste on all cars and then relieving these tanks at the terminal areas for proper waste disposal;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that AMTRAK, install sufficient holding tanks on its trains to prevent the future dumping of its holding tanks on the right of way.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.