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084906 10/31 THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN THE WHITE HOUSE FG006-13 WASHINGTON 94 OCT 28 P6: 38 October 28, 1994 MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESIDENT FROM: KATIE MCGINTY CC: LEON PANETTA RE: OEP WEEKLY REPORT SUPERFUND The broad-based coalition of stakeholders that supported Superfund reauthorization are working with key Hill staff and the Administration on a strategy for pursuing Superfund reauthorization next Congress and for implementing administrative improvements to the program. Several stakeholders, including the Business Roundtable, have expressed concern that you were not personally involved in the Superfund reauthorization process which they believe may account, in part, for Congress' failure to reauthorize the statute. Whenever possible, my office has clarified that you have been and remain very committed to achieving Superfund reauthorization and that other factors, notably partisan politics and time constraints, account for Superfund's defeat. The comments we have received highlight, however, that the public's perception of the Administration's commitment to a specific environmental issue is determined in part by your personal involvement and visibility on the issue. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Last week, the Domestic Policy Council discussed implementation of the Environmental Justice Executive Order. Federal agencies are required under the Executive Order to complete their environmental justice strategies by January 11, 1995. Many agencies are now in the process of beginning a public dialogue on their proposed strategies. Meeting participants discussed the approaches that the various agencies are taking to address the environmental justice issue and how the issue interrelates with many other social issues including economic redevelopment, health care, and small and minority business development. Administrator Browner and I emphasized that for the Executive Order to be a success, agencies must be engaged and committed at the highest levels.