Waste industry lobbyists are welcoming House passage of a railroad satety bill that includes broad language closing a loophole in federal transportation law that exempts rail operations from environmental requirements for handling and treatment of solid waste. The industry lobbyists say the House legislation, originally offered by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), gives them leverage in an upcoming House-Senate conference committee to amend a narrower Senate proposal offered by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), which they argue is confusing and does little to address the problem. "We are confident that everything will get worked out and we will get what we want," says one waste industry official. Lautenberg's plan is "very surgical," the source says. "The bill just pokes at the problem but does not solve anything."
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