Recently, the Biden Administration released its proposed budget for the Fiscal Year 2023. The total proposed budget is $5.8 trillion. Within this proposed budget is the proposed budget for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of $11.8 billion.
EPA Budget Brief
According to the 90-page Budget Brief, “The FY 2023 President’s Budget request for the EPA totals $11.881 billion with 16,204.1 FTE to advance Agency efforts to protect the environment and human health. This budget request, a $2.644 billion increase above the FY 2022 Annualized Continuing Resolution (ACR), will support EPA efforts to tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, clean up air, land, and water pollution, fund scientific research, and position the Agency with the workforce and capacity required to address emerging and ongoing challenges.”
Should this budget pass, the 16,204 EPA employees would be the most since 2012 when the agency had 17,106 full-time equivalents (FTEs). It would also be the largest budget (not factoring in inflation) in the history of the EPA (Source: EPA’s Budget and Spending).
The USEPA has proposed it’s 2023 budget (Image Source and Credit USEPA).
EPA Priorities for 2023
Below are the highlights of the 2023 budget as provided by the office of EPA Administrator, Michael Regan:
- Upgrading Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Nationwide. The Budget provides approximately $4 billion to advance efforts to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure nationwide, with a focus on underserved communities.
- Ensuring Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities. The Budget allocates $1.1 billion to improve air quality and reduce localized pollution, reduce exposure to radiation, and improve indoor air for communities across the country.
- Tackling the Climate Crisis. The Budget prioritizes funding for tackling the climate crisis and invests an additional $100 million in grants to Tribes and states that will support on-the-ground efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency in the Nation’s infrastructure.
- Advancing Environmental Justice. The Administration is committed to increasing efforts to deliver environmental justice in communities across the Nation.
- Protecting Communities from Hazardous Waste and Environmental Damage.
- Strengthening Our Commitment and Ability to Successfully Implement Toxic Substances and Control Act (TSCA).
- Tackling Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Pollution.
- Enforcing and Assuring Compliance with the Nation’s Environmental Laws.
- Restoring Critical Capacity to Carry Out EPA’s Core Mission. The Budget includes more than 1,900 new FTEs relative to current levels, for a total of more than 16,200 FTEs, to help rebuild the Agency’s capacity.
Prioritize PFAS
Environmental issues will vary by region. However, considering the size and scope of PFAS litigation (see PFAS: Massive Class Action, Due Diligence, and PFAS in Containers), establishing scientifically-sound maximum contaminant levels for PFAS chemicals, especially perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), would be beneficial to all regions. Hopefully, the allocated funding is well spent.
Experienced Environmental Assistance
While there is no way to predict federal or state environmental enforcement actions that may occur in the coming months, there are a lot of indicators that seem to suggest an active year. If you need help with an environmental issue, we can help. Put our team of environmental professionals to work for you. If you would like to start with an initial conversation, contact Jeffrey Bolin, M.S. at 248-932-0228, Ext. 125.
Follow Dragun Corporation on LinkedIn.
Sign up for our monthly newsletters.
Principled Foundation | Thoughtful Advice | Smart Solutions