Feb. 5

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would operate with about $400 million less in funding in fiscal year 2009 if a budget submitted by President Bush is approved by Congress.

The EPA would receive about $7.1 billion -- down from $7.5 billion in fiscal year 2008. President Bush´s overall budget for the entire federal government next year totals $3.1 trillion.

Under the EPA funding plan unveiled Feb 4, one of the biggest funding cuts would come to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund -- which extends loans to communities looking to upgrade their wastewater systems. The president´s proposal calls for $555 million in funding for 2009 as compared with $689 million in 2008.

The budget also cuts funding for a program dealing with leaking underground storage tanks by more than $33.5 million.

Meanwhile, the Superfund program -- which cleans up some of the nation´s most toxic waste sites -- would see a slight funding increase from $1.25 million to $1.26 million.

Funding for the EPA´s homeland security functions also would receive a funding boost.

EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson said the budget would help the government control costs while still protecting the environment.

"It helps EPA meet our environmental goals, while being responsible stewards of taxpayers´ dollars," Johnson said.

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