Clean Water Advocacy - Newsroom - AMSA in the News
Senate panel eyes wastewater infrastructure funding
Water Resources
E & E Daily
05/21/2001
A Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee oversight hearing
Wednesday will address the Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to support
wastewater infrastructure projects. The hearing is the next step in a larger
debate over what many see as a growing gap between what the federal government's
expenditures are compared to how much state and local governments, as well as
ratepayers, pay.
Sen. Michael Crapo (R-Idaho), the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee
chairman, will host the hearing. Last month, Crapo took wastewater issues to
Ohio, where he held a field hearing at the request of Sen. George Voinovich
(R-Ohio) that looked into that state's need to replace wastewater infrastructure
while dealing with federal regulations and federal funding.
Earlier this year, Voinovich introduced S. 252, which would provide $3 billion
per year for five years in grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund
(SRF), the major funding source for states and local governments. The bill is
awaiting action in the Environment Committee.
Capitol Hill hearings held in March also explored the greater need for an
overhaul of both the nation's wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.
Various reports are being kicked around as to what exactly is the funding gap,
including a 1996 EPA study which said nationwide, wastewater infrastructure
alone needs $139 billion. An April 1999 assessment revised the figure to more
than $200 billion, and EPA is also in the midst of a new "Gap Analysis" to be
published this summer that will reveal a historical assessment of the capital
investments of drinking water and wastewater needs. Private studies, meanwhile,
have estimated wastewater needs at upwards of $300 billion.
In a House hearing earlier this month on President Bush's proposed FY '02 EPA
budget, agency Administrator Christie Whitman justified a new wastewater funding
approach. She said EPA would fold together two new grant programs into the SRF,
funding the catch-all infrastructure program at $1.3 billion, $50 million less
than FY '01 appropriations. Justifying the shift in priorities, Whitman
explained it is important to begin implementing wet weather quality standards
Congress authorized under a larger omnibus appropriations act last year. To do
so, she said the new programs - Combined Sewer Overflows and Sanitary Sewer
Overflows - would receive $450 million in grants for states. The programs would
be funded through the SRF.
House lawmakers, however, noted that Whitman's plan is not authorized under law.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Water Resources Subcommittee Chairman
John Duncan (R-Tenn.) pointed out that funding for the Clean Water SRF must be
at $1.35 billion before going ahead with the sewer grant programs. Whitman
responded that the needs for both wastewater and drinking water infrastructure
are "huge" and demand "smart ways to partner with state and local governments to
solve this."
Schedule: The hearing is set for 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 23 in 628 Dirksen.
Witnesses: While a full list was not available, those expected to testify
include state drinking water officials and representatives from the American
Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies and the
National Rural Water Association.
- Darren Samuelsohn