Despite cuts proposed by the Obama administration, “EPA’s FY 2014 budget reflects our firm commitment to keeping American communities across our country healthy and clean, while also taking into consideration the difficult fiscal situation and the declining resources of state, local and tribal programs,” said EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe. “Our request takes a balanced approach to funding the agency, including increased investments in more efficient technologies as well as necessary program eliminations or reductions.”
Fiscal Year 2014 budget highlights include:
- E-Enterprise, a $60 million initiative, will enable EPA to begin developing tools and expanding systems designed to reduce the reporting burden on regulated entities and provide EPA and state regulators with easier access to and use of environmental data. E-Enterprise seeks to replace outdated, paper reporting with integrated e-reporting systems.
- $1,135.8 million in categorical grants for state and tribal partners, an increase of $47 million over FY 2012 levels. Funding to states and tribes in the State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) account continues to be the largest percentage of the EPA's budget request, at nearly 40 percent in FY 2014.
- $176.5 million to provide information and tools to cut greenhouse gas emissions. These funds will support reducing emissions in the U.S. and abroad through careful, cost-effective rulemaking and voluntary programs that focus on the largest entities while also encouraging businesses and consumers to limit unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions.
- $625 million to maintain the strength of core national enforcement and compliance assurance programs and for the Next Generation Compliance Initiative. In light of fiscal constraints, the need to innovate is even greater in order for the EPA to achieve gains in compliance over the long-term.
- $175 million to support its work to meet its court-ordered deadlines to develop, implement and review statutorily mandated ambient air quality standards and guidance and air toxics regulations.
- More than $1.34 billion to continue to apply the most effective approaches to preserve and restore land by developing and implementing prevention programs, improving response capabilities and maximizing the effectiveness of response and cleanup actions under RCRA, Superfund, Leaking Underground Storage Tank and other authorities.
The budget includes $54 million in savings by eliminating several EPA programs that have either completed their goals or can be implemented through other federal or state efforts. This request also identifies 20 programs that are being reduced by 10 percent or more in FY 2014.