EPA's FY 2009 Budget Focuses on Next Phase of Environmental Progress

(Washington, D.C. - Feb. 4, 2008) Building on 37 years of progress in protecting human health and the environment, E.P.A. Administrator Stephen L. Johnson today released his agency's $7.14 billion fiscal year 2009 budget.

"President Bush's budget request will continue to deliver environmental results today, as well as keep E.P.A. on course to deliver a cleaner, healthier tomorrow," said E.P.A. Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "This budget represents government at its best - it helps E.P.A. meet our environmental goals, while being responsible stewards of taxpayers' dollars."

Specifically the budget suggests to strengthen EPA's efforts in Energy and Homeland Security, urban areas around our major ports, nanotechnology research targets and acknowledges the challenge of managing in a time of tight fiscal constraints.

In Energy, the budget suggests an additional $14 million to meet the increased permitting and environmental review responsibilities that have come with the upsurge in suggested energy plans in response to higher energy prices. The additional backing will provide more workers with the required technical expertise, and grants will provide money for our state partners to increase their capacity to review and assess suggested projects.

To promote energy efficiency and meet the mandates of energy legislation, E.P.A. suggests $49.2 million for Clean Diesel grants. $15 million of these grants will be specifically targeted to support EPA's Sustainable Ports Initiative, which acknowledges that the forecasted tripling of container cargo in the next twelve years presents a major opportunity to make sure that the new infrastructure is built to be as energy-efficient as possible.

E.P.A. also continues to recognize our responsibilities to protect against terrorist attacks and natural disasters. For FY 2009, E.P.A. suggests to add $32 million above the FY 08 Enacted level for a total investment of $170 million to expand our emergency teams' capability to address in excess of one simultaneous event, and enhance our water infrastructure security.

The suggested 2009 spending project suggests the biggest enforcement budget ever: an increase of $9 million for a total budget of $563 million. This includes the biggest criminal enforcement budget ever: an increase of $2.4 million for a total of $52 million.

For water programs, the FY 2009 budget meets the president's commitment for backing State Revolving Fund grants with a request of $555.5 million for clean water grants and $842.2 million for drinking water grants. Several sustainable infrastructure initiatives are included: targeting Energy Star saving technologies to help reduce the $4 billion annually that water utilities spend on energy costs, supporting a multi-year research plan to foster innovation in distribution and collection systems and propose private activity bonds to provide another mechanism for water plan financing.

E.P.A. is continuing to build on the success of its Brownfields program, which encourages the clean-up and redevelopment of America's abandoned and contaminated waste sites. Since 1995, the plan has leveraged in excess of $10.3 billion in public and private investment, assessed the renovation of 11,500 properties and helped create leverage for in excess of 47,000 jobs.

To enhance air quality, the President's Budget includes:

• $186 million for state and local air grants;
• $98 million for EPA's climate change programs to build upon partnership efforts to achieve reductions in US greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the president's project to reduce greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent by 2012;
• $44 million for Energy Star programs for the commercial, residential and industrial sectors to continue voluntary government/industry partnership programs designed to capitalize on the opportunities that consumers, businesses, and organizations have for making sound investments in efficient equipment, policies and practices;
• $5 million for the Asia Pacific Partnership to support international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
• $4.4 million for Methane to Markets to promote methane recovery and use at landfills, coal mines and natural gas facilities.

• An additional $4.5 million for a total of $14.9 million for nanotechnology research to better understand the processes that govern the environmental fate of nano-materials and to capture the data needed for accurate nano-material assessments;
• $16 million for global climate change research; and
• $9 million for integrated risk information systems.