Environment Update
Volume V, Number 3
September 27,
2004
An Information Service of the NCSL Standing Committee on
Environment and Natural Resources
Previous Issues
SENATE APPROPRIATORS RESTORE CLEAN WATER FUNDS
On September 21, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved S. 2825, the
FY2005 appropriations bill for VA-HUD-Independent Agencies. Included in the bill
is $1.35 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF). The Senate’ s
recommended SRF funding level is equal to the FY2004 appropriation. House
appropriators, in H.R. 5041, provided $850 million for the SRF, a 37 percent
reduction. NCSL’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee officers urged
funding at the $1.35 billion level in a September 1, 2004 letter to both House
and Senate members. Governors and state/local water administrators also weighed
in. Because of time constraints, it does not appear that Congress will have
enough time before its October 8 or October 15 adjournment or recess date to
finish the VA-HUD measure and approximately a half-dozen other FY2005
appropriations bills. The unfinished bills may be bundled into an omnibus
appropriations measure that might be taken up in early October or mid-November
or possibly not until next year. To request the full text of NCSL’s letter
please email Tamra Spielvogel at tamra.spielvogel@ncsl.org.
EPA QUESTIONS FUTURE DIRECTION OF SUPERFUND
“The States’ abilities to meet current and/or future
responsibilities for the Superfund program as well as their own cleanup programs
are limited,” concludes a September 1, 2004 report from the Inspector General of
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The report focuses on programs
in Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington. The 95-page report
documents significant backlogs in site assessments, limited federal and state
funding, limited state capacity to maintain remediated sites and limited remedy
selection processes available to states. The report recommends EPA collaboration
with states to explore reasons for backlogs in completing site assessments,
streamlined remediation processes, viable funding and staffing options and
possible greater roles for states in addressing National Priorities List (NPL)
sites. It is now nine years since Superfund’s federal taxing authority sunset,
although funding has continued at reduced levels. The full report is accessible
at http://www.epa.gov/oigearth/reports/2004/20040901-2004-P-00027.pdf.
Energy & Environment Provisions in Tax Bill. On September 22,
conferees on H.R. 1308 reached agreement on a $146 billion tax cut package that
extends four expiring tax relief provisions. The conference report on H.R.
1308 also extends present law allowing full deductibility of certain
environmental remediation expenses for brownfields for one year. Tax
credits were also extended until the end of 2005 for facilities that place in
service electricity produced from renewable sources and individuals who purchase
qualified electric vehicles. These provisions comport in whole or in part
with NCSL policy. The conference report passed the House 339-65 and the
Senate 92-3.
Federal Oceans Commission Issues Final Report. On September 20, 2004 the U.S.
Commission on Ocean Policy submitted a final report to the White House with more
than 200 recommendation for improving ocean quality and water resources.
The final report incorporates comments received by the commission since the
release of their 500 page draft report was released in April. The
Commission took an "ecosystem-based management approach" in drafting its
recommendations which include reorganization of oversight responsibilities at
the federal state and local levels. The Commission recommends a large
increase in federal funding for ocean research, management, and pollution
abatement programs estimating the cost of its recommendations at $1.3 billion
the first year, $2.4 billion the second year, and $3.2 billion each following
year. Commission Chairman James Watkins presented the report's
recommendations to the Senate Commerce Committee on September
21st. The report is available at http://www.oceancommission.gov/documents/prepub_report/welcome.html
Hold the Date: NCSL FALL FORUM HEADS TO SAVANNAH,
GEORGIA
The next meeting of the NCSL Standing Committee of Environment & Natural
Resources will be held in conjunction with the NCSL Fall Forum, December 8-10,
2004. We are attempting to set up an optional site-visit through the
Department of Defense to Fort Stewart, Georgia (near Savannah) for the morning
of December 7 with follow-up discussion on issues related to encroachment, land
use planning, economic development and environmental protection as it relates to
communities near military bases.
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