On February 2nd, the Obama Administration proposed a budget of $10 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Protecting America’s waters is listed as a top priority for the agency – second only to clean air and climate change. However, if you just look at the budget numbers, water comes out on top. 46% ($4.6 billion) of the total 2011 budget is designated specifically for clean and safe drinking water programs.

Some water related 2011 budget highlights:

• Provides $63 million for efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay, an increase of 13 million from 2010
• $17 million for the Mississippi River Basin to respond to non-point source control recommendations of the Nutrients Innovation Task Group and implement recommendations outlined in the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Action Plan
• Provides $3.3 billion total for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds ($200 million less than in 2010). This will allow States and Tribes to initiate approximately 800 clean water and 500 drinking water projects nationally, continuing a major Federal commitment to water infrastructure investment.
• Includes $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a decrease of $173 million from 2010
• Provides $9.5 million for targeted technical assistance to assist underserved communities in restoring urban waterways for the Community Water Priorities program
• Includes $45.0 million to strengthen the base state, interstate and Tribal water pollution grant programs
• Includes $1 billion for various research and development initiatives, including $4.3 million to study the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water, $17.4 million to study endocrine disruptors and other emerging water contaminants, and $10.5 million for green infrastructure research

To read a complete summary of EPA’s 2011 budget visit:
http://www.epa.gov/budget/2011/2011bib.pdf