The budget proposal put forth last week by the Trump administration would impact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency significantly, if passed. The EPA’s new budget for fiscal year 2018 (beginning October, 2017) would be reduced by $2.6 billion. This would include a 31 percent cut in discretionary spending, and the elimination of 3,200 positions within the Agency. The Clean Power Plan, which focuses on climate change and renewable energy, would be defunded completely. Superfund cleanups would be cut by $330,000 million. The budget for the EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance would be cut from $548 million to $419 million. EPA’s Office for Research and Development would have it’s fund reduced from $483 million to $250 million. However, State Revolving Funds for water and wastewater infrastructure would be increased by $4 million to $2.3 billion, and $20 million would be directed to fund the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. This initial budget proposal by the Trump Administration will be followed by a more comprehensive proposal later this year.
Please make your voice heard by your congressmen on this important matter for water suppliers.
News source: PaintSquare News