State air regulators are warning that President Donald Trump's bid to slash EPA and state air quality funding could hinder implementation of his memo directing the agency to overhaul and streamline the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) process, saying even current funding might be insufficient to achieve the memo's goals.
Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) told water industry representatives he is willing to make additional changes to his bill that some industry representatives have criticized.
EPA's Inspector General (IG) has released an “alert” memo that appears to indicate controversial raises for several agency staff using Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) authority were authorized by agency Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson, though it remains unclear whether Administrator Scott Pruitt knew about or approved the pay hikes.
Drinking water utilities are praising the bill's emphasis on protecting source waters, but sustainable farming advocates are blasting the bill's funding cuts and other measures.
The fiscal year 2018 omnibus deal contains a little-noticed provision approving funding for a new EPA Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA) coal ash permitting program, with utilities and the ash reuse sector urging the agency to quickly develop the program as a backstop for states that opt against creating their own permit programs.
EPA finds a 10 percent increase -- up to $472.6 billion -- in estimated drinking water infrastructure investment needs since the agency's last estimate.
EPA finds a 10 percent increase -- up to $472.6 billion -- in estimated drinking water infrastructure investment needs since the agency's last estimate.
EPA's Inspector General (IG) is seeing a noticeable increase in lawmakers' requests to investigate Administrator Scott Pruitt's controversial travel, security and other expenditures, but the IG says that Trump administration budget cuts, which have forced a reorganization, limit the number of such discretionary and other reviews the office can perform.
