U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA Budget Aims to Create Jobs, Protect Human Health and
the Environment
Contact: Enesta Jones, 202-564-4355 / 7873 /
jones.enesta@epa.gov
(Washington D.C. – May 7, 2009) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson released
EPA’s fiscal year 2010 budget blueprint, which takes significant strides
to ensure that our air, land, and water are safe and clean. Expanding on
the investments of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, this $10.5
billion budget allows EPA to provide real solutions to our economic
crisis. It significantly improves accountability and transparency,
ensuring fiscal responsibility at a time when every dollar counts.
“EPA’s new budget reflects the President’s commitment to growing a clean
energy economy while protecting human health and the environment,” said
Administrator Jackson. “These investments demonstrate that it is possible
to work towards both a green economy and a green environment by
positioning EPA to lead the way in green jobs, in innovation and
technology, and in action on global climate change.”
Budget Highlights:
Maintaining and Improving Clean Water Infrastructure: To maintain and
improve outdated water infrastructure and keep our wastewater and drinking
water clean and safe, EPA has budgeted $3.9 billion. The funding will
support efforts around the country to build and renovate an estimated
1,000 clean water and 700 drinking water infrastructure projects, support
green infrastructure and create thousands of technical and construction
jobs. Funding will also be available to help communities repair and
upgrade the aging network of drinking water and wastewater pipes that are
overwhelmed and breaking down.
The budget includes a $475 million multi-agency Great Lakes Initiative to
protect and clean up the largest fresh water lakes in the world through
restoration efforts, invasive species control, non-point source pollution
mitigation and critical habitats protection. The budget also includes
funding for crucial efforts to protect, maintain, and restore the
Chesapeake Bay and Anacostia River, Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay, Lake
Champlain and other large waterbodies.
Addressing Climate Change: To address the growing threat of climate
change, EPA will make key investments in the greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions inventory. That involves new analytical tools, upgraded testing
capabilities, and coordination with other agencies on research and green
initiatives.
EPA’s $17 million GHG registry investment will include data reporting and
implementation efforts, data management systems, guidance and materials
for the regulated community and source measurement technologies. The
budget also includes an additional $2 million for EPA to continue to
reduce its own GHG emissions by 3 percent each year.
Managing Resources Efficiently: The budget reflects important concerns of
accountability. The President, the Congress, and most importantly, the
people, demand that the federal government manage its resources
responsibly. EPA will be increasing funding for the Inspector General’s
office to monitor public dollars entrusted to the agency.
Restoring Communities: The EPA budget is investing in hazardous waste
cleanups like Superfund and Brownfields programs that employ thousands of
people across the country and restore properties for economic use.
$1.3 billion will go to increase the number of hazardous waste sites ready
for anticipated use and fund ongoing site cleanups. The budget proposes to
restore the Superfund tax known as the “polluter pays” policy, which
expired in 1995, to fund future clean-up efforts. Beginning in 2011, the
Superfund tax is estimated to generate $1 billion of revenue a year,
rising to $2 billion a year by 2019.
The budget proposes $175 million for the Brownfields program, which will
provide additional assessment, clean-up, and job-training grants. The
budget also contains $128 million for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank
and Underground Storage Tank programs and $18 million for the Oil Spill
Response program.
Managing Chemical Risks: A total of $55 million will go to an enhanced
toxics program to screen, assess and reduce chemical risks. Funding will
be invested in monitoring air toxics at schools and to provide technical
assistance and coordination with states and local communities. Other major
investments include funding for continued efforts to reduce lead exposure
and grants to states, tribes, and other partners to promote worker safety,
protection of water sources and endangered species from pesticide
exposure.
Reinforcing Scientific Integrity: This budget supports rigorous,
peer-reviewed scientific analyses with $842 million for science and
technology. The budget also proposes additional funding for water
sustainability to assess, develop and compile scientifically rigorous
tools and models that will help advance the deployment of green water
infrastructure.
Protecting Communities: Approximately $600 million will go to the EPA’s
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance program. It includes an increase of
nearly 30 additional enforcement staff and will enhance efforts to
integrate environmental justice considerations in EPA programs and
policies. It will also aid in the work to fulfill environmental
requirements with respect to other federal agencies’ recovery act
projects.
Strengthening Partnerships: Administrator Jackson emphasized that states,
localities and tribes are the front line in many environmental programs,
as they implement major portions of almost all EPA programs. The budget
includes $1.1 billion for categorical grants to states and tribes.
More information on the FY 2010 budget:
http://www.epa.gov/budget/
More information on EPA’s recovery act funding:
http://www.epa.gov/recovery
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