The proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) provides $6.1 billion to support the mission of protecting human health and the environment. The budget proposal maintains USEPA’s focus on its core mission – providing Americans with clean air, land and water, and ensuring chemical safety. In addition, the proposed budget provides critical water infrastructure investments for communities across America.
Highlights of the fiscal year 2020 budget proposal include investments in water infrastructure through the State Revolving Funds (SRF), the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) credit program, and the recently authorized America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA). These resources would complement State and local drinking water and wastewater infrastructure investments as well as funding provided through other Federal sources.
The FY 2020 capitalization of the SRF would supplement approximately $80 billion at the State level. Credit subsidy funding for WIFIA will potentially support more than $2 billion in direct loans, which when combined with other funding sources, could spur more than $4 billion in total water infrastructure investment. The AWIA grant programs would assist in lead testing and drinking water fountain replacement in schools, sewer overflow control, and water infrastructure workforce investment.
The FY 2020 budget provides resources to ensure USEPA can advance priority areas such as reviewing and revising regulations, improving the permitting process, and enhancing collaboration with State, Tribal and Federal partners. Several significant rulemakings are expected to be completed before 2020, including replacement rules for Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and the 2015 Clean Power Plan.
In addition, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended, requires USEPA to evaluate whether existing chemicals may pose unreasonable risks and, if so, take immediate steps to protect human health and the environment. The USEPA must also affirm that new chemicals entering the market are safe and that appropriate measures are taken to address risks. In FY 2020, this work will accelerate as USEPA reaches statutory deadlines to complete the first set of risk evaluations for existing chemicals and begins the next phase of work. The FY 2020 budget provides $66.4 million for the Chemical Risk Review and Reduction program to support these efforts, which will supplement fees paid by chemical manufacturers and processors.
To view the complete details of the USEPA’s FY 2020 proposed budget, click here.