U.S. House Releases Economic Stimulus Plan With Environmental Components

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee this week released its plan for a $825 billion stimulus bill, including $11 billion for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and many other environmental components of interest to state environmental programs.

The basic components so far include:

Water: $6 billion - Clean Water State Revolving Fund, $2 billion Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, $1.5 billion Rural Water Projects and Corps of Engineers projects totaling $4.5 billion of which some portion is for environmental restoration

Air: $300 Million for Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, $2 billion Advanced Battery Loans and Grants for vehicle batteries, $200 million Electric Transportation Incentives, $2.4 billion Clean Fossil Energy Program for carbon dioxide capture and sequestration, $400 million Alternative Bus and Trucks for purchase of alternative fueled vehicles

Waste: $800 million Superfund Hazardous Waste Cleanup, $200 million Leaking Underground Storage Tanks, $100 million Brownfield restoration, $100 million Lead Paint Removal, $300 million Closed Military Base Cleanup, $500 million Nuclear Weapons Complex Facility Cleanup

This is considered the “starting place” for federal legislation, and will have to be reconciled with Senate and Presidential versions which are still to emerge. Some observers expect the total to rise as the proposal is addressed. A vote is expected within a month.

 

A summary of the stimulus bill is available online.

 

States will have to determine specifically how these funds will be distributed locally and what the appropriate role for state environmental funding is in light of the potential for dramatic federal investments.