EPA Earmarks Funds for Clean Water Initiative
Washington Bureau
President Clinton, as part of his State of the Union address, has proposed a Clean Water Initiative to improve the environmental quality of the nations water resources. Carol Browner, EPA administrator, said her agencys 1999 budget includes $145 million for the program.
Washington Bureau
Browner said the program would “address todays greatest threats to our nations waters, including polluted runoff from urban and agricultural areas, industrial toxics, and the loss of wetlands. It will give Americans more of the tools they need to target sources of pollution and protect critical watersheds...”
Washington Bureau
She said the program, which was proposed by Vice President Al Gore last fall, would help create community-based partnerships to protect watersheds. Most of the funds would go to states and local communities to help reduce indirect pollution from farms, lawns, and city streets.
Washington Bureau
EPA, the Agriculture Department, and the Commerce Department were preparing action plans to implement the program.
Washington Bureau
The overall EPA budget proposal for fiscal 1999 was a record $7.8 billion, up 6 percent from the $7.4 billion that Congress appropriated in fiscal 1998.
Washington Bureau
EPAs budget request also includes $1.85 billion for the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Fund programs.
Border Projects
U.S.-Mexico Directors of the North American Development Bank have recommended that four water and wastewater projects along the U.S.-Mexico border receive $37 million from an EPA program.
Border Projects
The projects total $90 million. The El Paso, Texas, drinking water treatment plant would receive $9.5 million through the program. A Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, wastewater treatment plant would get $11.8 million; a Tijuana, Baja California, wastewater system $16 million; and the Naco, Sonora, drinking water and wastewater system $1 million.
Border Projects
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation has named an advisory panel to oversee a hydrological and ecological study of the Upper San Pedro River from Sonora, Mexico, into Arizona
Border Projects
The 10-member panel of government officials and private-sector experts will review the study and advise policymakers and local residents on conservation of the transboundary watershed.
League Survey
The National League of Cities annual survey of municipal officials has found 38 percent believe their level of services increased in 1997, while only 4 percent reported a decrease. Of those responding, 68 percent said their citys services increased over the past 5 years while only 2 percent reported a decrease.
League Survey
NLCs 14th annual "State of the Cities" survey was based on responses from a random sample of 399 municipal officials in cities with populations above 10,000.
League Survey
The officials reported continued improvement in most indicators of municipal conditions. Among the 30 indicators, they said 23 (or 77 percent) had improved, up from 60 percent a year ago.
League Survey
Economic conditions led the list of positive indicators, with 65 percent of the respondents reporting improved overall economic conditions during the past year.
League Survey
The impact of unfunded mandates was identified most often, by 32 percent of respondents, as among the conditions most deteriorated over the past 5 years, and was second only to cable TV rates in mentions as a worsening condition in the past year (56 percent). Preemption of local authority was in the top five of the most deteriorated conditions over the past 5 years (16 percent) and as a worsening condition in the past year (32 percent)