1ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, WASHINGTON, D. C. 20460 FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, 24 JAN. 1Q72 12 NOON CONTACT:Holfmann (202) 755-2770 Temple (202) 755-2770 WILLIAM D. RUCKELSHAUS ADMINISTRATOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY STATEMENT ON 1973 BUDGET The new 1973 budget represents a continuing commitment^on the part of the Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to the goal of a cleaner America. At a time of budget stringencies everywhere to cope with the pressures of inflation, the fact that EPA is continuing at a high level for the coming year demonstrates that pledge of faith. The total proposed in new budget authority for EPA in fiscal 1973 is $2,481,300,000. This compares with $2,447,520,318 in the current fiscal year. A number of programs are being expanded in the coming year. We will undertake larger efforts, for example, in research and develop- ment in control technology for air pollution, in regional studies of air pollution, and in research on health effects of air pollution. We will be devoting more funds to research on eutrophication problems EPA Form 1510.1 (6-71 > ------- -2- in water. And there are other increases to speed up the development of safer pest control measures, and to develop effluent guidelines. The largest part of this new budget is $2 billion in Federal matching grants to local governments for construction of sewage treatment facilities. This will enable the nation to help localities meet a major challenge the construction, maintenance, and operation of adequate waste treatment plants. It is part of the Administration's three-year program of $6 billion in Federal funds to help upgrade the quality of the nation's waters, to protect public health, and to improve the aesthetic aspect of our lakes, rivers and harbors. When combined with contributions by local government, this will ultimately mean a total for treatment facilities of about $12 billion. Offsetting the increases I mentioned earlier in a number of programs, there have been changes in the solid waste manage- ment program. We will be moving from the development and demon- stration phase to various forms of aid to localities. The shift will mean a decrease of some $15.1 million. There will also be a decrease of $5.4 million in development of new methods of waste water treatment and control, as private industry is now increasing its interest in this activity. Last month the EPA celebrated its first anniversary. It has been a year of action, as well as a year of pulling to- gether many disparate activities under one roof and a melding of many budgets spread among various agencies into one compre- (more) ------- hensive whole. The EPA in fiscal 1972 put to work nearly double the funds appropriated for environmental programs in ** 1971. n6~ This new budget for 1973 builds upon both the progress and experience of the past year. It will enable us to con- tinue our momentum. We have laid down standards, launched intensive research, taken scores of enforcement actions, and have responded to millions of communications from the public with a broad program of information and education on the environment. It may be argued in some quarters that we are moving too fast, that our budget is too large. I answer that with a comparison. The cost of air pollution alone in the United States, according to our studies, is more than $16 billion a year in damage to health, vegetation, materials, and property values. That does not even reckon the toll in discomfort to humans and the esthetic impact. So I think you will agree that from an investment point of view alone, the EPA budget of roughly $2.5 billion is abundantly justified in terms of the hope it extends for a better, healthier America. # # # ------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FY 1973 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS The President's 1973 budget provides for essen- tially the same level of budget authority in 1973 as was appropriated to EPA in 197 2. As the attached Table A indicates, it includes a total of over $2,446 million for the following appropriations: Operations, Research, and Facilities - $439.3 million - slightly less than the 1972 level; Construction Grants - $2 billion - the same as 1972; and, Scientific Activities Overseas - $7 million - again the same as 1972. ------- In addition, the President's budget includes for later transmittal $35 million to cover the 1973 estimated costs of the several pieces of new legislation proposed by the Administration currently pending in Congress. The development of details on the proposed use of chese funds is held in abeyance pending enactment of the legislation to which they will be applied. Operations, Research, and Facilities The small decrease in budget authority would seem to indicate a continuation of the same level of program effort in 1973 as in 1972. This is deceiving, however. In fact, the 1972 budget of $440.5 million contains some $45.5 million (Table B) of non-recurring costs, the largest portion of which is $28 million for the construction and equipping of the National Research Laboratory at Cincinnati, Ohio. The remainder covers other non-recurring costs, primarily for equipment. When these types of costs are deducted from the 1972 budget authority, the proposed 1973 level of funding actually provides for a program increase of $44.3 millionan increase of about 10 percent over 1972. Also, there has been some shift in emphasis within the EPA budget to permit growth of important on-going programs and initiation of high priority new activities. These significant increases and other adjustments are as follows: Research, Development and Demonstration r- Air pollution control technology to improve the Nation's ability to achieve compliance with air standards will be increased by $5 million. - 2 - ------- r Air pollution regional studies to develop analytical models which will enable the States and metropolitan areas to select more effective and less costly standards--compliance abatement strategies--will be initiated at a level of $5 million. - Air pollution health effects research to improve our development of effective but not excessively costly air pollution standards will be increased by $5 million. An additional $4 million will be devoted to research on water pollution eutrophication problems. A program to accelerate the development of environmentally safer pest control measures will be undertaken in cooperation with the National Science Foundation and the Department of Agriculture. EPA funding will be $1.8 million. An increase of $2 million will be devoted to the development of effluent guidelines. In addition to these increases the following adjustments will be made to existing programs: Solid waste management program will be reoriented away from the development and demonstration of technology toward an attack on the institutional and non-technology barriers which impede proper solid waste management in most of our communities. The 1973 program will emphasize various types of assistance to communities, including demonstrations of solid waste management - 3 - ------- systems utilizing available technology, to show the way to improved handling and proper disposal or recovery of resources for solid wastes. This redirection will permit the utilization of 1972 carryover funds to support about four Resource recovery demonstration projects. The net effect of these actions produces a program decrease of $15.1 million for FY 1973. In 1973 greater reliance will be placed, on the private sector for development of new and improved waste water treatment and control technology. The estimate therefore provides for a decrease of $5.4 million in this area. Abatement and Control Financial assistance to air control agencies will be increased by $8.6 million to assist the States in following through with the execution of their implementation plans adopted and approved under the Clean Air Act. Air surveillance and compliance programs have been increased by $3.3 million. Grant support to water pollution control agencies has been increased by $5 million. The graduate training and fellowship program has been decreased by $3 million. - 4 - ------- In 1973 it is also proposed that the costs of conducting the pesticide registration and direct training activities will be recovered by the application of user charges. The funds required to carry out these activities are included in our budget authority for 1973 but the amounts recovered will be returned to Treasury. The amounts estimated to be recovered are $3 million for the pesticide registration activity and $3.1 million for direct .training. Enforcement The air enforcement program has been increased by $1.1 million in order to meet the Federal responsibilities for enforcing air quality standards, new source performance standards, hazardous materials standards, and mobile source standards. - The Refuse Act Permit Program has been increased by $3.5 million. t The water enforcement program is increased by $2.8 million to promote timely and adequate compliance with water quality standards arid Refuse Act permits. Facilities - The $1 million requested will provide for essential repairs and improvements in EPA's various laboratory facilities throughout the Nation. Program Direction and Support t An increase of $3.5 million is programmed for economic studies. These studies will emphasize the economic costs and benefits related to standards, regulations, and abatement strategies. - 5 - ------- Construction Grants - The estimate for 1973 of $2 billion is the same as that appropriated for 1972. This request is consistent with the President's proposal for a three year program of $6 billion in Federal support, at a rate of $2 billion a year, to meet the total national need for waste treatment facilities of $12 billion. Manpower - EPA's end of year employment target for 1973 is 9,815. This represents an increase of 700 over 1972 and includes 500 full- time and 200 temporaries. - 6 - ------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Budget Authority - Obligations - Outlays 1971-1972-1973 (in thousands of dollars) BUDGET AUTHORITY 1971 1972 1973 Operations, Research, and Facilities $285,284 $440,520 $439,300 Construction Grants 1,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 Scientific Activities Overseas........ 3,500 7,000 7,000 Revolving Fund ~ ... ... Advances and Reimbursements.. Miscellaneous Trust Fund Sub-total... 1,288,784 2,447,520 2,446,300 Proposed for Later Transmittal 35,000 Total, EPA.. 1,288,784 2,447,520 2,481,300 OBLIGATIONS 1971 1972 1973 $283,390 $417,764 $490,028 1,228,364 2,080,500 2,000,000 2,705 7,795 7,000 26 309 1,109 3,911 5,216 6,195 50 50 1,518,396 2,511,634 2,504,382 . . . . 35,000 1,518,396 2,511,634 2,539,382 OUTLAYS 1971 1972 1973 $224,252 $375,300 $416,000 478,366 908,000 1,100,000 3,700 6,000 -26 -1,247 ... -3 701,342 1,287,000 1,522,000 22,000 701,342 1,287,000 1,544,000 Table A ------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Budget Authority (dollars in thousands) Operations, Research, and Facilities 1972 Less Non- Adjusted 1973 Estimate Recurring Base Estimate Increases Research and Development. $169,393 $8,781 $160,612 $166,775 $6,163 Abatement and Control. l87,96i| 6,1*32 181,532 203,370 21,838 Enforcement, 21,101 1,666 19 ,1+35 27,923 8,1+88 Facilities, 28,000 28,000 1,000 1,000 Program Direction and Support, 3b,062 620 33,1+1+2 1+0,232 6,790 Total. 1+1+0,520 1+5,1+99 395,021 1+39,300 - i+1+,279 Table B ------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Manpower Number of employees at end-of-year 1971 Actual 1972 Estimate "1973" Est imat e Full-time in permanent positions Total Full-time in permanent positions - Total Full-time in permanent positions Total Operations, Research., and Facilities 5,799 6,973 7,818 8,933 8,279 9,59^ Advances and Reimbursements 152 152" ¦ 162 162 162 162 Revolving Fund for Certifications and Other Services 12 12 51 51 Allocation accounts 8 8 8 8 8 8 Total 5,959 7,133 8,000 9,115 8,500 9,815 Table C ------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Budget Authority-By Program (dollars in thousands) Operations, Research, and Facilities Air Water Solid Wastes Pesticides Radiation Noise. Interdisciplinary Facilities Program Direction and Support Tot al 1972 Increase Less Non- Adjusted 1973 or Estimate Recurring Base Estimate Decrease $lU8,828 -$5,138 $11+3,690 $171,51+1 +$27,851 153,*+82 -8,2UU 11+5,238 156,158 +10,920 35,798 -1,206 3^,592 23,312 -11,280 2*1,1+87 -1 ,,860 22,627 22,1*87 -1U0 9,398 -297 9,101 9,739 +638 1,225 -78 1,1U7 1,181 +3U 8,338 +8,338 28,000 -28,000 1,000 +1,000 39,302 -676 38,626 1+5,51+1+ +6,918 1+1+0,520 -U5,l+99 395,021 1+39,300 UU,279 ------- |