FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
MAY 18, 2000 

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Michael G. Oxley (R-Findlay) is working toward a solution to the federal contamination on Marion's River Valley High School campus. Oxley has inserted a provision in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 that will assist the community in arriving at an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. 

The provision Oxley inserted will give the Army Corps of Engineers authority to consider school relocation as a cleanup option. Currently, the Corps does not possess such authority. 

"We want the best solution for the entire Marion community. There has been a considerable amount of support and growing consensus around school relocation as a common-sense solution that will provide the best health protection for Marion's students. One of the major obstacles in the way is the Corps' lack of legal authority to pursue such an option. This is what I seek to correct with the inclusion of this new provision." 

The bill will be voted on in the House of Representatives late this afternoon. 

Oxley has discussed the provision with the House Armed Services Committee and the House Appropriations Committee members and intends to pursue it through the entire legislative process. Today's action represents the first step, because the language must also include language in the appropriations bills. 

Oxley believes that contaminated sites must be considered on an individual basis to determine the best solution for each unique case. In recent years, he has met numerous times with local school officials, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the Secretary of the U.S. Army to help the parties arrive at practical and effective resolution.