UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON. D.C, 20460 OFFIC IAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY EP A-33S A ^2-Environmental News Daitch (202) 755-0344 Deister (202) 755-0344 FOR RELEASE AFTER 12 NOON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1974 EPA BUDGET FOR FISCAL 1975 INCLUDES SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES FOR ENERGY-RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND AIR PROGRAMS The Environmental Protection Agency's proposed operating budget for fiscal year 1975 will increase by $215 million — from $516 million in the current fiscal year to $731 million in fiscal year 1975, EPA Administrator Russell E. Train announced today. The proposed budget, which will emphasize energy-related environmental research and air pollution control programs, "provides clear evidence of the Administration's continued support of environmental improvement," Train said. "The EPA budget is a very solid one which strengthens the essential on-going program activities across-the-board," he declared. Train added: "The primary thrusts in 1975 will be on establishing a critical mass of research on energy-related environmental problems and to further implement the Clean Air Act." The Administrator also highlighted the fact that EPA's environmental objectives will be substantially advanced by the President's proposed budget for the Department of Trans- portation's Urban Mass Transportation Administration and for federally owned facilities. For mass transit, the budget calls for an increase in grant funds from $200 (more) Return this sheet if you do NOT wish to receive this material ~, or if change of address is needed ~ (indicate change, including rip code). EPA FORM 1510-1 (REV. *72) R-352 ------- -2- million in fiscal year 1974 to approximately $400 million in fiscal year 1975 to be used for bus purchases. DOT will give special consideration to urban areas affected by EPA transportation plans in the use of these funds. In addition, the President will shortly be proposing new initiatives to further strenghten mass transit systems. To support the elimination of pollution from federally owned or operated facilities, the 1975 Federal budget includes other agencies' requests for funds totaling $321 million, a $51 million increase over the 1974 figure. As part of the President's accelerated energy research program, the EPA budget for 1975 includes an increase of $169 million for developing and demonstrating new and improved technology for controlling pollution from the use and pro- duction of energy, for accelerating health and environmental effects research, and for research on-energy conservation technology and environmental assessments. "The energy research program," Train said, "will assure that environmental protection and energy conservation are achieved while striving for greater energy self-sufficiency." The proposed budget increase of $13.3 million for the air program reflects EPA's intention to make air pollution control a top priority in 1975. The agency plans to empha- size activities implementing and enforcing air pollution regulations already on the books, aiming at meeting the national ambient air quality standards by July 1975. The outlays for these activities will be increased by $3 million, of which $1.4 million will be used to strengthen the auto- mobile pollution control program. At the same time, air pollution control research acti- vities will be increased by $10 million, principally to define more precisely the health effects of air pollution and to determine more specifically how harmful sulfates are formed. In addition, the recent release of $4 billion of fiscal year 1975 contract authority for funding the construction of municipal waste treatment plants will supplement $3.5 billion previously released but unobligated for this purpose. Accord- ingly, the total available in fiscal year 1974 for obligation under this construction grants program is $7.5 billion. (more) ------- -3- The other principal increases provided for in the 1975 budget (shown in attached table) are as follows: $3 million for the water supply program; $5.9 million for the solid waste program; $2 million for the pesticides program; $1.2 million for the noise control program; $4.5 million for the toxic substances program; and $16.7 million for support activities. In anticipation of the enactment of the safe drinking water legislation presently pending in Congress, the 1975 budget proposal for an increase of $3 million in the water supply program is intended to develop standards, to further health effects research on drinking water, and to provide the States with technical assistance in implementing the program. There is also proposed an increase in funding for the solid waste management program which will permit the program to be continued at the level reached in fiscal year 1974. In this area, EPA will continue to emphasize activities directed toward hazardous waste disposal and encouraging com- munities to apply methods of energy recovery from solid waste. The pesticides program increase of $2 million will be used to implement the re-registration, classification, and intrastate products provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act as amended in 1972. The additional funds will also permit increased support of enforce- ment activities and health effects research. The $1.2 million increase for the noise abatement program will enable EPA to strengthen its capacity to further implement the Noise Control Act of 1972, especially in developing stand- ards and guidelines for the abatement of noise from transporta- tion sources and major noise-producing products. EPA will also develop labeling regulations for selective major noise products and issue product standards. EPA also expects Congress to act on toxic substances control legislation pending before it, and the increase of $4.5 million proposed in the budget will permit the agency to take steps to implement the legislation. The figure in- cludes $2 million to help EPA initiate a research program to conduct studies on the health effects of toxic substances and to strengthen its efforts to establish test protocols and environmental standards in this area. (more) ------- The $16.7 million increase for support activities is needed mainly to meet the requirement that Federal agencies budget directly for office space costs instead of including these costs in the General Services Administration budget as in past years. These costs amount to $12.7 million for EPA. In addition, the increased funds will provide for the repair and improvement of laboratory facilities and a computer pur- chase . The 1975 budget shows a slight net decrease of $1.4 mil- lion in the water quality program. This is due largely to a reduction in water quality research. However, the budget includes a $1 million increase for the Great Lakes Demon- stration Project. This is a joint project with Canada to demonstrate new methods and techniques to eliminate or con- trol pollution in the Great Lakes. The budget also provides for continuing EPA's employ- ment at the fiscal year 1974 level of 9,203 permanent posi- tions and 1,015 temporaries. EPA will make adjustments in its manpower resources in line with changing workloads and new program emphasis. # # # ------- Environmental Protection Agency Budget Authority - By Program (dollars in thousands) Program 1?74 1975 Increase or Decrease Energy Water Quality Water Supply Solid Wastes Pesticides Radiation Noise Toxic Substances Interdisciplinary Management Support Scientific Activities Overseas M09., 8,758£/ 7,177 4,011 4,292 14,985 45,672 $191,000^/ 156,934 161,925 7,711 14,689 32,920 7,382 5,233 8,797 15,496 62,736 62,377 4,000 +$168,500 +13,320 -1,407 +3,002 +5,931 +2,059 +205 +1,222 +4,505 +511 -1,217 +16,705 +2,000 Subtotal 515,864 731,200 +215,336 Amount appropriated not allocated • ~ • -13,000 Total, Appropriated funds....... 731,200 +202,336 Contract Authority: Construction Grants Areawide Planning Grants • • • 150,000 -4,000,000 +50,000 Total, Contract Authority .4,100,000 150,000 -3,950,000 a/ Includes EPA portion ($186 million) reflected elsewhere in President's budget. b/ An additional $6 million is available from prior years thereby providing a 1974 program of nearly $14.8 million. c/ Water Control Grants, $10 million and National Academy of Science Study, $3 million. d/ FT 1975 authority available in FY 197**. Combined vith prior year authority total available $7•5 billion. ------- |