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111th Congress (2009-2010)

Senate Report 111-038

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{link: 'http://thomas.loc.gov:80/cgi-bin/cpquery?%26dbname=cp111%26r_n=sr038.111%26sel=TOC_200602',title: 'THOMAS - Committee Report - Senate Report 111-038' }

Senate Report 111-038 - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2010
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $10,196,736,000 for the Environmental Protection Agency, a decrease of $299,264,000 from the request and increase of $2,551,062,000 above the fiscal year 2009 enacted, non-emergency level. The Committee proposes to offset this amount by rescinding $40,000,000 of prior-year balances and has included language to this effect in the Administrative Provisions section.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Appropriations, 2009 $790,051,000
Budget estimate, 2010 842,349,000
House allowance 849,649,000
Committee recommendation 842,799,000

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

EPA's `Science and technology' account provides funding for the scientific knowledge and tools necessary to support decisions on preventing, regulating, and abating environmental pollution and to advance the base of understanding on environmental sciences. These efforts are conducted through contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements with universities, industries, other private commercial firms, nonprofit organizations, State and local governments, and Federal agencies, as well as through work performed at EPA's laboratories and various field stations and field offices. In addition, Hazardous Substance Superfund Trust Fund resources are transferred to this account directly from the Hazardous Substance Superfund.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $842,799,000 for science and technology programs, an increase of $450,000 above the request and an increase of $52,748,000 above the fiscal year 2009 enacted level.

Consistent with the budget request, the Committee recommends $26,834,000 be paid from the Hazardous Substance Superfund account to fund ongoing research activities authorized by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

The Committee's recommended changes to the budget request are detailed below.

Homeland Security- The Committee has included $18,726,000 for the Water Security Initiative program, a decrease of $5,000,000 below the request. The Committee notes that this level represents a 25 percent increase in funding for the program over the fiscal year 2009 enacted level. The recommendation fully funds the remaining two Water Security utility pilot projects, bringing the total to five pilot projects, and provides a $2,000,000 increase above the enacted level for related monitoring, evaluation and research activities.

Research: Special Priorities- The Committee has not agreed to the request to terminate funds for special priorities and has included $5,450,000 for extramural research grants to fund high-priority research by EPA partners on water quality and availability issues. These funds shall be awarded competitively. Priority should be given to partners that demonstrate a national scope for their programs.

Air Toxics Research- The Committee continues to be concerned about the effects that toxic substances found in air pollution have on human health and the environment, including public health impacts such as asthma and other respiratory diseases. The Committees urges the Agency to expand its air toxics research portfolio and encourages the Office of Research and Development to consider collaborations with institutions such as the Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center to further this research, as authorized by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

Biocrude Research- The Committee encourages the Agency to work with its partners to research the potential of producing biocrude from wastewater treatment plants that allow the production of renewable fuels through traditional petroleum refining techniques.

Health Effects of Fuel Efficiency and Emission Reduction Efforts- The Committee is aware that efforts to improve fuel efficiency and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will, in turn, require careful evaluation for potential consequences for human health and the environment. The Committee encourages the EPA to work with extramural research partners and explore ways to strengthen human health research and assessment efforts related to alternative fuels and emission reduction technologies.

Impacts of Climate Change and Renewable Energy on Coastal Environments- The Committee encourages the Agency to work in close collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and its science laboratories to ensure that there is appropriate coordination in addressing climate change and renewable energy challenges that impact the Nation's waters and coastal environments.

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