For Immediate Release                                                        Contact:  Peter Rafle, Senate EPW

February 5, 2007                                                      (202) 228-3102 dir./(202) 302-7086 cell

BUSH BUDGET UNDERMINES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Superfund, Clean Water, Climate Programs Slashed

Washington, DC – Today the Bush Administration continued its assault on programs that protect America’s clean air and clean water and protect our communities from toxic waste sites and other threats.  Funding for critical flood control projects was also slashed.

“Once again, this Administration is cutting the critical programs that protect our children, our families and our communities,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer, (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.  “I will be working with my colleagues to restore funding for these important protections.”

 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 

EPA Overall Budget:

Overall, the budget for the Environmental Protection Agency would be cut by more than $400 Million from the 2006 enacted levels.  In 2006, the Agency received $7.6 billion.  The President’s budget request contains just $7.2 billion for the EPA.

Clean Water

 

In addition, the President’s budget would force a $400 million reduction in Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund, which provides grants to states to help cities and towns build water treatment plants and protect water quality.  This amounts to nearly 37 percent below 2006 enacted funding levels.

 

 

Clean Air

 

The President has proposed to cut the budget by about $35 million for State and local programs that help keep our air clean in our cities and states. 

 

 

 

Global Warming Research Cut

 

The President also proposes to cut the EPA’s science and technology budget for climate protection by about $5 million, from $18.64 million in 2006 to $13.1 million at a time when we need more global warming research, not less.   

 

 

 

Slowing Cleanups at Superfund Sites

 

The Bush Administration would strip almost $7 million from efforts to clean up the nation’s most heavily contaminated toxic waste sites in communities across the country. 

 

These cuts would further slow the pace of cleanups.  This year, the Bush Administration reduced their expected number of final cleanups from 40 to 24, a more than 70 percent decline from the pace of cleanups – an average of 82 per year -- in the last six years
of the prior administration. 

 

 

 

Hurting Efforts to Help At-Risk Communities

 

The Bush Administration’s budget also slows efforts to help some of the nation’s communities that are most at risk from pollution by proposing to cut more than $1.7 million from EPA’s environmental justice program.

 

 

 

ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

 

Army Corps of Engineers Construction Programs

 

Funding for the Army Corps of Engineers’ construction programs, which includes critical flood protection projects to save lives and property, would be slashed by roughly 35 percent, a cut of approximately $800 million. 

 

 

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