Thursday, March 2, 2017

Trump Considering 30% Cut To EPA Grants To States, 20% Cut To EPA Staff

The Washington Post and the Oregonian reported Thursday the Trump Administration is considering a 30 percent cut in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants to states to administer federal environmental programs and a 20 percent cut to EPA staff.
The Oregonian emphasized the proposed cuts have not yet had the benefit of comments by EPA. Among the proposed cuts are--
EPA Program
FY 2016 (millions)
FY 2018 (millions
Percent Cut
Great Lakes Restoration
300
10
97%
Chesapeake Bay
73
5
93%
Radon
2.9
.505
91%
Environmental Justice
6.7
1.5
78%
Climate Protection
95
29
69%
Air Climate Energy Research
92
46
50%
Brownfields
25
14
44%
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
11.3
8
29%
State Grant Programs



Air Quality
228
159
30%
Water Pollution Control
230
161
30%
Nonpoint Source Pollution
165
115
30%
Drinking Water
102
71
30%
Brownfields
48
33
31%
Diesel Emissions Reduction
50
0
100%
Targeted Airsheds
20
0
100%
Multipurpose Grants
21
0
100%
EPA’s complement is proposed to be cut 19 percent from 15,376 to 12,397.
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt told ClimateWire late Wednesday, "I am concerned about the grants that have been targeted, particularly around water infrastructure, and those very important state revolving funds.
"The importance is setting priorities as an agency and then allowing the budget to be formed around that. What's difficult, having only been there a week, is to have these kinds of recommendations made and then look at our priorities and say, 'You know what, we've got to make sure that we look at these programs.'
"What's important for us is to educate OMB on what the priorities of the agency are, from water infrastructure to Superfund, providing some of those tangible benefits to our citizens, while at the same time making sure that we reallocate, reprioritize in our agency to do regulatory reform to get back within the bounds of Congress," Pruitt said.
A copy of a summary of the proposed cuts is available online.
NewsClips:
Here Are 42 Of Trump's Proposed EPA Budget Cuts
Pruitt Concerned About Some Specific Budget Cuts
Related Story:
CBF: Proposal To Cut EPA Chesapeake Bay Funding Not Consistent With President’s Statements

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe To Receive Updates:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner