FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 4, 2002
PRESIDENT'S REQUEST FOSTERS ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIPS
Administrator Christie
Whitman today announced President Bush's proposed Fiscal Year 2003
budget request of $7.7 billion to support EPA's mission of protecting
human health and the environment. The budget request includes more
than a 100 percent increase in funding for Brownfields, significant
increases for watershed protection and a $200 million overall increase
over last year's request.
"The budget we are submitting
today reflects President Bush's strong commitment to leaving America's
air cleaner, its water purer, and its land better protected than
it was when we took office," Whitman said. "It promotes that goal
by further strengthening our partnerships with state, local and
tribal governments. It promotes that goal by funding innovative
new programs and strengthening existing programs that work. And
it promotes that goal in a manner consistent with our commitment
to fiscal responsibility."
Whitman also indicated
that state and tribal programs are the recipients of nearly half
of EPA's budget request. "Our proposed request provides almost $3.5
billion in grants for states, tribes and other partners. The President
and I both believe that not all wisdom resides in Washington, D.C.,
and that lots of innovative, creative, and effective environmental
progress is being made by state, county and local governments,"
said Whitman.
Included in EPA's grant
figure is a $15 million state enforcement grant program. These additional
grant resources will help states and tribes take on greater responsibility
of the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations and will
allow them to prioritize their enforcement needs.
The budget request for
fiscal year 2003, which begins Oct. 1, provides $200 million for
the nationally-acclaimed Brownfields program. This program to reclaim
abandoned industrial sites and convert them to new uses within communities
is a top environmental priority of the Bush Administration and is
a cornerstone of EPA's partnership efforts with states, tribes and
localities. The true success of the Brownfields program is what
communities are doing for themselves -- selecting the path best
suited to meet local needs and turning dormant and blighted neighborhoods
into thriving, renewed community resources.
Whitman announced that
the Administration's request includes several innovative programs
that will build and strengthen partnerships and ultimately build
healthier communities.
The budget includes $21
million for a new program where EPA will work with its environmental
partners to target 20 specific watershed projects for improvement.
This public-private partnership effort will replicate successful
approaches of watershed restoration projects, such as the Charles
River Initiative in New England. It will drastically improve the
water quality for boating, swimming and fishing in communities across
the nation.
To help recognize and reward
innovative technologies that produce more effective and lower cost
solutions to environmental problems and to stimulate development
where major technology gaps exist, the request provides $10 million
for the new National Environmental Technology Competition. This
competition builds public-private partnerships, fosters technological
innovation through competition and promotes the development of new,
cost-effective technologies that address some of our most pressing
environmental challenges.
To continue to do its part
to ensure the nation is prepared to respond to terrorist incidents,
EPA is investing an additional $124 million for homeland security.
Combined with resources provided in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriation
Act of 2002, this represents a two-year total of $300 million in
new resources. EPA plays a critical role in preparing for and responding
to terrorist incidents because of its unique expertise and experience
in emergency preparedness and response to hazardous material releases.
Included in this figure
is $20 million to address threats to the nation's drinking water
supply. EPA plays a significant role in working with state governments
and local utilities to protect drinking water supplies. EPA already
has begun working with states and local utilities to assess this
vulnerability. The additional $20 million being requested in FY
2003 will augment $88 million appropriated as part of the Emergency
Supplemental Appropriation Act of 2002, which together will ensure
that utilities have developed a comprehensive assessment of these
vulnerabilities and emergency operations plans using the most current
methods and technologies.
Also included in the $124
million request for homeland security is $75 million so that the
Agency can research better techniques for cleaning up buildings
contaminated by biological agents.
"Taken together, the President's
proposed budget for FY 2003 fully supports the work of this Agency,"
Whitman said. "It will enable us to transform this Agency's 30-year
mission to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. It brings us that
much closer to realizing our goal of cleaner air for all Americans to
breathe, purer water for all Americans to drink and swim and fish in,
and better protected land for all Americans to enjoy and cherish for
generations to come."
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