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Welcome to the Water Resources Coalition's March newsletter. The 111th Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the Water Resources Coalition ensured that water resources funding was included. This month's Coalition newsletter focuses on all of the progress being made as we try to achieve the development, implementation, and funding of a comprehensive, national water resources policy to ensure a sustainable, productive economy; a healthy aquatic ecology; and public health and safety. | |
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Obama Administration FY10 Budget for Water Resources Agencies of Interest to WRC
The Obama Administration released its FY10 Budget on February 26, 2009. Of interest to the Water Resources Coalition (WRC) was the funding proposed for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Environmental Protection Agency water resources programs. The detailed budget documents for most of the Departments and Agencies will not be available until later in April.
The Budget proposes $5.1 billion in discretionary budget authority for the Corps civil works program in FY10. That proposed funding is in addition to the $4.6 billion provided to their programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Overall the Department of the Interior was projected to receive $12 billion under the proposed FY10 Budget for all of their programs and agencies. Out of this overall projected request the funding for the Bureau of Reclamation is expected to be used for their Title 16 Water Reuse and Recycling program as well as additional water conservation initiatives in the 17 Western states. The Corps and the Bureau are funded by the Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Roughly $11 billion of this request is addressed through the Department of Interior's Budget in the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill.
The overall EPA proposed Budget would be $10.5 billion - a $3 billion increase from 2008 funding levels - a 35% under the FY10 request. This would include $3.9 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and a new $475 million, multi-agency Great Lakes Initiative. This Agency is also funded in the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. Additional detail on these three Budget requests can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/ |
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Funding Provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 for Water Resources Agencies of Interest to WRC
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received the following funding under the ARRA for their program: Investigations - $25 million; Construction - $2 billion; Operation and Maintenance- $2.075 billion; Regulatory - $25 million and; Mississippi River and Tributaries $375 million. The money will be provided by discretion to existing projects of the Corps. For additional information go to www.defenselink.mil/recovery The Bureau of Reclamation received $1 billion under the ARRA. The funding is be provided at the discretion of the agency and according to these priorities: (a) programs, projects, or activities that can be obligated/executed quickly; (b) Programs, projects, or activities that will result in high, immediate employment. $126 million was set aside for Water Reclamation and Reuse Program, $60 million for the Rural Water projects and separate money for the Central Utah and California Bay-Delta programs. For additional information go to www.doi.gov/recovery The EPA Clean Water SRF program was provided $4 billion and the Safe Drinking Water SRF was provide $2 billion. For additional information go to www.epa.gov/water/eparecovery In addition to these websites please go to www.recovery.gov to keep apprised of the progress taking place. Additional information can also be found at www.omb.gov |
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Push for Support of Increased Funding for USGS Streamgaging Programs
Several Water Resources Coalition (WRC) members joined approximately 50 other organizations urging Congress to support increased funding for the U.S. Geological Survey's Cooperative Water Program and their National Streamflow Information Program. This cost-shared programs provides data and science to many federal, state, tribal and local governmental agencies as well as the public to assist in better decision making in for such activities as monitoring of Federal water treaties, forecasting storm surge, flood and drought conditions, monitoring water quality and projecting future water needs and availability for agricultural, municipal and industrial water uses. These are programs are used in all 50 states.
The Cooperative Water Program has been in existence for over 100 years. It once had 7,550 active streamgages nationwide. Inadequate funding in past years has reduced that total number of gages and reduced the continuous data record that is used in making important water decisions in river basins. Federal support for the program has been far less than the $163 million invested by non-Federal cooperators. If the National Streamflow Information Program is fully implemented as part of this effort the USGS will need $95 million in their budget for their share to sustain the planning, water rights administration, project operation and flow forecasting efforts nationwide. For additional information on this effort please go to the Interstate Council on Water Policy at www.icwp.org |
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House Subcommittee Approves Wastewater Grants and Loans
On Thursday, the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment approved legislation that would authorize $13.8 billion over five years in grants and low-interest loans to local communities for construction of wastewater treatment facilities and other facilities to abate water pollution. The bill (H.R. 1262), which won approval on a voice vote, would authorize the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program for the first time in fifteen years.
The five-year authorization also includes $50 million a year in grants for pilot programs testing such alternative methods for enhancing water supplies as wastewater reclamation and reuse, $1.8 billion in grants for projects designed to prevent sewer overflows and $150 million a year to address sediment contamination in the Great Lakes watershed. The bill additionally requires sewage treatment plants to set up alert systems to notify the public within 24 hours of sewer overflows
Past efforts to reauthorize the program faced strong Republican opposition over the wage law known as the Davis-Bacon Act (PL 88-349) and, ultimately stalled. An amendment to strip Davis-Bacon requirements from a similar authorization program two years ago was rejected.
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FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations
Highlights of the expected Congressional omnibus funding for the Army Corps of Engineers for FY2009:
-Construction $2.1 billion
-Operation and Maintenance $2.2 billion
-Investigations $168 million
-Mississippi River and Tributaries $383 million
-Regulatory Reform $183 million
To address the funding shortfall in the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, the draft bill provides that only nine inland waterway projects will have access to IWTF revenues in fiscal year 2009.
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Look out for ASCE's full 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure on March 25th!
On January 28th, 2009 the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), a Water Resources Coalition co-founder, released portions of the 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure. ASCE assigned a cumulative grade of D to the nation's infrastructure and noted a five-year investment need of $2.2 trillion from all levels of government and the private sector.
On March 24th, ASCE will be hosting 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure: A Dialoge on Solutions in the U.S. Capitol, room HC-5. If you are interested email govwash@asce.org
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Annual Coastal Summit March 25 - 27 in Washington, DC
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North Carolina Coastal Local Government Annual Meeting
The 2009 North Carolina Coastal Local Governments Annual Meeting will be held March 30-31 at the North Carolina Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores. For more information, go to http://ncbiwa.org/wp/?page_id=8 The Northeast Shore v& Beach Preservation Association and the Northeast Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association will hold a "Northeast Beaches Conference" September 21-23 in Woods Hole, MA. For more information, go to http://www.asbpa.org/pdfs/NEChapterCallforPapers.pdf |
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AGC Federal Contractors Conference to be Held April 27-30, Washington, DC
Registration has now been activated for AGC's Federal Contractors Conference, and can be accessed through the new website: www.agc.org/fedcon.
The Federal Contractors Conference is the only national event where AGC contractors and Federal agency personnel can meet and review procurement and contracting issues from around the United States. This year will include meetings with USACE, NAVFAC, USAF, GSA, and OBO, the AGC Federal Owners Advisory Council, as well as a day of visits to Capitol Hill to discuss increased infrastructure investment and ensuring fair federal contracting opportunities, among other issues.
Sponsorships are also still available and function as a great way to increase your company's brand awareness, create positive public relations, and gain recognition as a key player in federal contracting and procurement.
For more information, contact Marco Giamberardino at (703) 837-5325 or giamberm@agc.org. | |
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Sincerely,
Brian Pallasch and Marco Giamberardino
Co-Chairs
Water Resources Coalition |
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