What Sequestration Could Look Like
If the worst should come to pass, what would the March 1st sequester look like for state programs relative to Federal EPA funding? The Agency would apply the 8.2% reductions equally across all program accounts rather than target certain initiatives or program areas. This would also mean Federal personnel furloughs until the problem is fixed.
For state drinking water and wastewater programs, an 8.2% reduction in EPA funds would most likely mean:
- DWSRF: a reduction of $75 million to leave $843 million for FY 13 funding
- PWSS: a reduction of $8.6 million to leave $96.7 million in funding for FY 13
- CWSRF: a reduction of $120 million to leave $1.35 billion for FY 13 funding
- §319: a reduction of $135 million to leave $151 million for FY 13 nonpoint source funding
- §106: a reduction of $20 million to leave $219 million for state wastewater program implementation.
For EPA’s key water program accounts, the same percentage reduction would mean reductions of $65 million in the Science & Technology account which traditionally also funds research initiatives such as the Water Security Initiative and those for WaterRF and WERF; a $220 million decrease in the Agency’s Environmental Programs account which funds efforts such as the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay restoration programs, the competitive award for technical assistance to small water/wastewater systems, and the endocrine disruptors and energy star programs; and, an estimated $293 million cut to the State & Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) program which funds the SRFs, PWSS, UIC, and environmental information programs.
