Wastewater Utilities Urge Congress To Fund Infrastructure Financing Programs

摘要

Wastewater utilities are urging House and Senate appropriators to maintain current fiscal year funds for the clean water state revolving fund program in coming years and to provide funds to initiate a pilot water infrastructure financing program. The utilities also want Congress to appropriate funds for the Environmental Protection Agency to implement a 2012 integrated planning policy that would allow cities, towns and counties to meet Clean Water Act obligations in a flexible yet compliant manner. The EPA fiscal year 2016 budget request asked Congress to appropriate $1,116 billion for the clean water state revolving fund, which is 23 percent below current fiscal funding of $1,449 billion. The EPA also is seeking $25 million to implement a five-year pilot infrastructure financing scheme for large wastewater, drinking water and water reuse projects known as the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovations Act, or WIFIA (46 ER 395, 2/6/15). Another $13 million has been requested by the agency to implement its integrated planning policy.