FY 2013

EPA Budget in Brief

United States Environmental Protection Agency

www.epa.gov
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Office of the Chief Financial Officer (2710A)

Publication Number: EPA-190-S-12-001

February 2012

www.epa.gov

Recycled/Recyclable – Printed on 100% postconsumer recycled paper.
Budget in Brief

Table of Contents

 PAGE 

Overview .................................................................................................................. 1 

Summary Resource Charts

 

EPA’s FY 2013 Budget by Goal............................................................................ 9 

EPA’s FY 2013 by Appropriation.........................................................................10

EPA’s Resource History......................................................................................11

EPA’s Resources by Major Category..................................................................12

Highlights of Major Budget Changes ................................................................... 13 

Goals

 

Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality .................21

Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters .................................................................. 35 

Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development ... 47 

Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution...................61

Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws ............................................................... 69 

Appendices

 

Summary Resource Tables

 EPA’s Resources by Appropriation.................................................................. 79 

 EPA’s Program/Projects by Program Area.......................................................81

 

Highlighted Programs 

 Categorical Grants ........................................................................................... 95 

 STAG (State and Tribal Assistance Grants) ..................................................... 97 

 Estimated SRF Obligations by State (FY 2011 – FY 2013)............................105 

 Infrastructure Financing .................................................................................109 

 Trust Funds (Superfund, Leaking Underground Storage Tanks) ...................115 

 

List of Acronyms ............................................................................................... 121

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Overview

Mission

The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

is to protect human health and the environment. 

Budget in Brief Overview

The Agency’s FY 2013 budget request supports the Administration’s commitment to 

ensure that all Americans are protected from significant risks to human health and 

protect the environment where they live, learn and work. The EPA’s work touches on 

the lives of every single American, every single day as we protect the environment for 

our children, but also for our children’s children. The mission, day in and day out, is to 

protect the health of the American people by keeping pollution out of the air we breathe, 

toxins out of the water we drink and swim in, and harmful chemicals out of the food we 

eat and the lands where we build our homes and our communities. We are committed to 

advancing environmental justice and achieving transparency in agency decision-making 

as an integral part of achieving our mission. 

Environmental challenges and health threats have the capacity to limit opportunity and 

hold back the progress of entire communities. Recent events such as the radiation 

released after the earthquake in Japan and the environmental impact of large-scale 

disasters, both natural and man-made, reinforce the critical importance of fulfilling the 

EPA’s mission and providing the safeguards that the American people look to the 

Agency to deliver. We will meet these challenges by using the best available scientific 

information, ensuring fair and effective enforcement of environmental laws, and 

providing all parts of society—communities, individuals, businesses, and federal, state, 

local, and tribal governments—access to accurate information so that they may

participate effectively in managing human health and environmental risks. The EPA’s 

work is guided by the best possible data and research and a commitment to 

transparency and the accountability that comes with it.

To learn more about how the Agency accomplishes this mission, including information 

on the organizational structure and regional offices, visit: http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa.

FY 2013 Annual Performance Plan and President’s Budget (including FY 2011 

Annual Performance Report)

The EPA’s FY 2013 Annual Performance Plan and President’s Budget requests $8.344 

billion, approximately $105 million below FY 2012. The Agency recognizes the difficult 

fiscal situation that the nation is facing, and is making strategic adjustments to sustain 

necessary and fundamental human health and environmental protection within core 

resources and programs. In preparing the FY 2013 President’s Budget, we reassessed 

our priorities and focused on the most critical work of the EPA and our state and tribal 

partners to maximize the effectiveness of our resources and collaboration. This budget 

reflects our commitment to finding ways to do our work more effectively and efficiently 

while achieving the same or potentially better results, and realizing cost savings. 

1
Overview

To support continued progress toward the most critical goals and outcomes, the FY 

2013 request reprioritizes and adjusts funding levels. Where possible, the Agency is 

leveraging its resources by expanding or building new partnerships with other federal 

agencies. In addition, the Agency is focusing resources on the problems of the future 

and is eliminating certain mature programs that have accomplished their goals, and 

where there is the possibility of maintaining some of the human health and 

environmental benefits through implementation at other federal agencies or the state or 

local level because they are well-established and well-understood. 

The EPA strives to connect the results we have achieved to our planning and budgeting 

decisions and to support our overall strategic direction and the FY 2012 – 2013 Priority 

Goals. Toward this end, the Agency has worked to integrate the FY 2011 Annual 

Performance Report and FY 2013 Congressional budget justification. The EPA’s FY 

2011 performance information is highlighted throughout the budget request, notably in 

the sections titled Program Performance and Assessment and Overview of FY 2011 

Performance sections, which describe key accomplishments and challenges for the 

EPA’s five strategic goals and five cross-cutting fundamental strategies.

FY 2013 Funding Priorities

Improving Air Quality and Climate Change

The EPA is dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of the Nation’s air to 

promote public health and protect the environment. Among the most common sources 

of air pollution are highway motor vehicles and their fuels. The EPA’s work to establish 

the new fuel and national emissions standards to reduce emissions of air pollution and 

educate consumers on the ways their actions affect the environment have led to a real 

success story. The national program of fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for 

light-duty vehicles alone will save approximately 12 billion barrels of oil and prevent 6 

billion metric tons of GHG emissions over the lifetimes of the vehicles sold through 

model year 2025. In FY 2013, $102 million is provided for Federal Vehicle and Fuel 

Standards and Certifications. In addition, Federal Stationary Source Regulations work is 

funded at $34 million which includes a $7 million increase to support the development of 

New Source Performance Standards and to more efficiently coordinate actions to meet 

multiple CAA objectives for controlling both criteria and toxic air pollutants while 

considering cost effectiveness, the technical feasibility of controls, and providing greater 

certainty for regulated industry. 

We will continue to address the impacts of climate change in FY 2013. An increase of 

approximately $32.8 million over the FY 2012 Enacted budget for climate protection will 

allow the Agency to support the full range of approaches to reducing GHGs and the 

risks its effects pose to human health and the environment and to property. This 

increase includes $26.5 million for categorical grants for states and tribes. The 

economic costs of not addressing climate change could include reduced productivity

through missed work and school days, increased hospital visits, respiratory and 

cardiovascular diseases, and even premature death – especially for certain vulnerable 

populations like the elderly, the poor, and children. 

2
Overview

Protecting America’s Waters 

The EPA’s ecosystem protection programs encompass a wide range of approaches that 

address specific at-risk regional areas and larger categories of threatened systems, 

such as urban waters, estuaries, and wetlands. Locally generated pollution, combined 

with pollution carried by rivers and streams and through air deposition, can accumulate 

in these ecosystems and degrade them over time. The EPA and its federal partners 

along with states, tribes, municipalities, and private parties, will continue efforts to 

restore the integrity of the imperiled waters of the United States. In FY 2013, the EPA 

will fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $300 million, maintaining FY 2012 

enacted funding levels, and fund the Chesapeake Bay program at $72.6 million, a $15 

million increase over FY 2012 levels.

Sustainable Water Infrastructure

The Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds are provided $2 billion in 

FY 2013. As part of the Administration’s long-term strategy, the EPA is implementing a 

Sustainable Water Infrastructure Policy that focuses on working with states and 

communities to enhance technical, managerial and financial capacity. Important to the 

enhanced technical capacity will be alternatives analyses to expand "green 

infrastructure" options and their multiple benefits. Federal dollars provided through the 

State Revolving Funds will act as a catalyst for efficient system-wide planning and 

ongoing management of sustainable water infrastructure. More fully utilizing the 

revolving fund capitalization grants provided to our partners will enable States to build, 

revive, and “green” our aging infrastructure.

To help ensure that water is safe to drink and to address the nation’s aging drinking 

water infrastructure that can impact water quality, $850 million for the Drinking Water 

State Revolving Fund will support new infrastructure improvement projects for public 

drinking water systems in FY 2013. In concert with the states, the EPA will focus this 

affordable, flexible financial assistance to support utility compliance with safe drinking 

water standards. The EPA also will work with utilities to promote technical, financial, and 

managerial capacity as a critical means to meet infrastructure needs and to enhance 

program performance and efficiency. 

The EPA will continue to provide annual capitalization to the Clean Water State 

Revolving Fund to enable EPA partners to improve wastewater treatment, address 

nonpoint sources of pollution, and promote estuary revitalization. Recognizing the 

expected long-term benefits of healthy aquatic systems as economic cornerstones vital 

to property values, tourism, recreational and commercial fishing, and hunting, the EPA 

is requesting $1.175 billion in FY 2013. 

Protecting Our Land

The Superfund program protects the American public and its resources by cleaning up 

sites which pose an imminent or long term risk of exposure and harm to human health 

and the environment. In FY 2013, the Agency will maintain the funding level necessary 

to respond to emergency releases of hazardous substances as well as maintain the 

goal of sites achieving human exposure and groundwater migration under control. In 

addition, as one of the Superfund program’s primary goals, the Agency will continue its 

“enforcement first” policy and identify and pursue potentially responsible parties (PRPs) 

3
Overview

to pay for and conduct cleanups at Superfund sites to preserve critical federal dollars for 

sites where there are no viable contributing parties. This will include negotiating and 

settling with PRPs and utilizing the special account funds which the Agency obtains 

from PRPs to finance site-specific CERCLA response actions in accordance with the 

settlement agreement. PRP resources, state resources, and appropriated resources are 

critical to the Superfund program. As of the end of FY 2011, the EPA is carefully 

managing more than $1.8 billion in special account resources and has developed multiyear plans to use these funds as expeditiously as possible consistent with applicable 

requirements. The EPA will maximize all of our available tools and resources to 

continue our Superfund work, while attempting to minimize programmatic impacts.

Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals 

Ensuring the safety of new or existing chemicals in commerce to protect the American 

people remains a key EPA priority. Chemicals are ubiquitous in our everyday lives and 

products. They are used in the production of everything from our homes and cars to the 

cell phones we carry and the food we eat. Chemicals often are released into the 

environment as a result of their manufacture, processing, use, and disposal. FY 2013 

funding will be directed toward chemical safety, increasing support for actions to reduce 

and assess chemical risks, and obtaining and maximizing the availability to the public of 

needed information on potentially hazardous chemicals. The current program activity 

levels continue to leave a backlog of chemicals to be tested. The FY 2013 overall 

increase of $36.4 million to the EPA’s chemical programs is essential to support a 

crucial stage of the EPA’s strengthened approach to address existing chemicals that 

have not been tested for adverse health or environmental effects.

21st Century Enforcement

This FY 2013 budget builds upon current efforts to transition toward using 21st Century 

technology in enforcement and compliance, resulting in long-term savings to the federal 

government, states, and the regulated community as the overall cost of compliance is 

reduced. Investments in new technology, including e-reporting and more advanced 

monitoring tools, will allow the EPA and our state partners to more easily identify, 

investigate, and address the worst violations that affect our communities. By embracing 

new approaches to harness 21st century technology tools, the Agency will meet our 

goals more effectively and efficiently.

In FY 2013, the Agency will redirect or refocus approximately $36 million within the 

enforcement and compliance programs in order to transform and modernize our 

approach to enforcing the nation’s environmental laws. This effort will enhance the 

EPA’s ability to detect violations that impact public health, reduce transaction costs for 

the regulated community, and better engage the public to drive behavioral changes in 

compliance. The EPA will promote e-reporting by implementing new technologies, 

develop and disseminate advanced monitoring tools, upgrade agency IT infrastructure 

to exploit more fully the wealth of new monitoring data, and modernize the EPA’s 

approach to enforcement by ensuring new and existing rules incorporate electronic 

reporting. In FY 2013, as a key element of this approach, we will assist states in 

modifying their data systems to implement e-reporting with their regulated facilities, 

leading to improved compliance and transparency. 

4
Overview

Supporting State and Tribal Partners

Supporting our state and tribal partners, the primary implementers of environmental 

programs on the ground, is a long-held priority of the EPA. Funding to states and tribes 

in the State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) account continues to be the largest 

percentage of the EPA's budget request, at 40% in FY 2013. For Categorical Grants, 

$1.2 billion is provided, reaffirming the EPA’s commitment to states that implement rules 

and rely on Federal funding to maintain core environmental programs in light of state 

funding uncertainties. At $114 million over FY 2012 Enacted levels, this budget request 

for Categorical Grants provides increases of $66 million for State and Local Air Quality 

Management, $27 million for Pollution Control, and $29 million for Tribal GAP. 

As part of the Agency’s commitment to tribes, we are proposing a $29 million increase 

over the FY 2012 enacted levels to enhance the Tribal General Assistance Program 

(GAP) resources. This funding level for GAP grants will build tribal capacity and assists 

tribes in leveraging other EPA and federal funding to contribute towards a higher overall 

level of environmental and human health protection. 

Expanding Partnership with Other Federal Agencies

The EPA continues to work with its partners across the federal government to leverage 

resources and avoid duplication of efforts and maximize the effect of federal resources 

in environmental protection. For example, to support sustainability efforts, the EPA has 

joined forces with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of 

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to align housing, transportation and 

environmental investments through a Partnership for Sustainable Communities. Adding 

to that effort, the Brownfields program has become a laboratory for innovation in 

sustainable development where efforts to remediate polluted sites and make them 

available for reuse by the community often includes green infrastructure, Smart Growth 

principles, efficient building techniques, or other steps towards building a sustainable 

city. 

Building on the existing collaboration efforts to protect or restore the nation’s waters, the 

EPA and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will enhance existing coordination 

efforts in reducing non-point source pollution. The Agency also recently joined ten other 

federal agencies in launching the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, aimed at 

transforming urban waters into neighborhood centerpieces and foundations for 

sustainable economic growth. The EPA will continue to work with the Department of 

Energy (DOE) and the US Geological Survey (USGS) on a Hydraulic Fracturing Study 

of potential impacts on drinking water. 

Priority Science and Research

Science and research continue to be the foundation of all our work at the EPA. The 

Office of Research and Development’s integrated and cross-disciplinary organization of 

the scientific research programs provides a systems perspective. This perspective is 

critical to the performance of the EPA and increases the benefits from high quality 

science. Superior science leads to shared solutions; everyone benefits from clean air 

and clean water. Rigorous science leads to innovative solutions to complex 

environmental challenges. In FY 2013, the EPA is refocusing resources to support a 

5
Overview

Center for Innovative Estuarine Approaches, and advancing efforts in both lifecycle 

chemical safety and sustainable molecular design. 

The Center for Innovative Estuarine Approaches will develop innovative scientific and 

technical solutions to inform policies, environmental management structures, and 

business approaches to ensure the sustainability of our coastal watersheds and 

estuaries. Additional funding is for sustainable molecular design of chemicals to develop 

inherently safer process and products that minimize or eliminate the associated adverse 

impacts on human health and the environment. This effort will provide new principles for 

alternative chemical design and reduce the likelihood of unwanted toxic effects of 

nanomaterials and other chemicals. 

The EPA also will continue to build on current research to study the potential impacts of 

hydraulic fracturing on drinking water. Building on ongoing research, the $14 million 

total request in FY 2013 for hydraulic fracturing research will begin an effort to assess 

additional questions regarding the safety of hydraulic fracturing. The research will be

coordinated with DOE and USGS under a developing Memorandum of Understanding 

which emphasizes the expertise of each Federal partner, and will include an 

assessment of potential air, ecosystem, and water quality impacts of hydraulic 

fracturing. The EPA also will release an Interim Report on the Impacts of Hydraulic 

Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources in 2012.

Eliminations and Efficiencies

Recognizing the tight limits on discretionary spending across government, the EPA has 

evaluated and reprioritized its work and made necessary adjustments to focus FY 2013 

resources toward the Agency’s highest priorities and most critical needs. These 

reductions and eliminations and the projected impacts are described in fuller detail in 

appropriate sections of the FY 2013 Annual Plan and Congressional Justification and in 

the 2013 Cuts, Consolidations, and Savings (CCS) Volume of the President’s Budget 

which identifies lower-priority program activities in accordance with the GPRA 

Modernization Act, 31 U.S.C. 1115(b)(10). The public can access the volume at: 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget. 

The EPA continues to examine its programs to find those that have served their 

purpose and accomplished their mission. The FY 2013 President’s Budget eliminates a 

number of programs totaling $50 million including: the Clean Automotive Technology 

Program; Beaches Protection categorical grants; Environmental Education; State Indoor 

Radon Grants; the Support to Other Federal Agencies program within Superfund; and 

the Fibers program. 

Building on the work undertaken in FY 2011 and planned for FY 2012, the Agency is

examining how it can do its work differently, both programmatically and administratively, 

to achieve efficiencies and results. To complement these near-term efforts, the EPA 

also is undertaking a series of important steps to lay the groundwork for longer-term 

efficiencies, to move toward a 21st century EPA. Major projects include enhancing 

collaboration tools and IT systems, evaluating and consolidating or reconfiguring our 

space, and establishing Regional or national Centers of Expertise, all of which will help 

ensure the best use of human and financial resources. The EPA is continuing the effort 

6
Overview

to analyze staffing levels and deploy human resources to achieve the Agency’s mission 

more effectively and efficiently. 

The Agency’s funding request reflects its commitment to reducing discretionary 

spending across government. In response to government-wide calls for promoting 

efficient spending, such as the Campaign to Cut Waste and Executive Order on 

Promoting Efficient Spending, the Agency will reduce spending by an aggregate of 20 

percent on advisory contracts, printing, travel, and IT devices by the end of FY 2013 

compared to FY 2010. The EPA will do this by: providing as many documents and 

reports electronically rather than printing thousands of pages of paper, saving money 

and reducing the Agency’s environmental footprint; reducing overall agency travel 

ceiling by 27 percent by using videoconferences, reducing the number of overall 

meetings and combining meetings; and managing spending on EPA-held conferences 

by using government-owned space and technology to achieve savings. 

7
8
Overview 

Environmental Protection Agency’s 

FY 2013 Budget by Goal 

Total Agency: $8,344 Million 

Goal 2

45.2%

Goal 3

23.1%

Goal 4

8.3%

Goal 5

9.9%

Goal 1

 13.4%

Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

Goal 3: Cleaning Up Our Communities

Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution

Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

$1,22

9

$1,125 M

$3,782 M $1,938 M

$699 M

$830 M

Notes: 

Dollar totals and percentages in chart exclude a $30 million cancellation of prior year funds. 

Totals may not add due to rounding. 

9
Overview 

Environmental Protection Agency’s 

FY 2013 Budget by Appropriation 

Total Agency: $8,344 Million 

Notes: 

Dollar totals and percentages in chart exclude a $30 million cancellation of prior year 

funds. 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

IG

$48 M

0.6%

B&F

$42 M

0.5%

Oil

$24 M

0.3%

LUST

$104 M

1.2% SF

14.0%

S&T

9.6%

EPM

33.6%

STAG

40.1%

Science & Technology Environmental Programs & Management

Inspector General Buildings & Facilities

Inland Oil Spill Superfund

Leaking Underground Storage Tanks State & Tribal Assistance Grants

$3,356 M $807 M

$1,176 M

$2,817 M

10
Overv

$8.3

$7.8 $8.1 $8.1 $8.4 

$8.0 

$7.6 $7.7 $7.5 $7.6 

$10.3 

$8.7 $8.4 

$0.0

$2.0

$4.0

$6.0

$8.0

$10.0

$12.0

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Dollars in Billions

Fiscal Year

President's Budget Enacted Budgets

EPA’s Enacted Budget FY 2001 to 2013

(Dollars in Billions)

FY 2013 President’s Budget

Notes:

FY 2002 Enacted includes $175.6 M provided for Homeland Security in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act.

FY 2006 Enacted excludes hurricane supplemental funding. 

FY 2009 Enacted excludes ARRA funding.

All Enacted Budgets include rescissions; President’s Budget includes cancellation of prior year funds.

18,000

17,832

17,802

17,909

17,759 17,631 17,560

17,324

17,252

17,417 17,494

17,084 17,109

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

FTE

Fiscal Year

EPA’s FTE* Ceiling History

* FTE (Full Time Equivalent) = one employee working full time for a full year (52 weeks X 40 hours = 2,080 hours), or the equivalent number of 

hours worked by several part-time or temporary employees.

FY 2013 President’s Budget

iew 
Overview 

Environmental Protection Agency’s 

Resources by Major Category 

(Dollars in Billions)

$2.7 $2.4 $2.1 $2.1 $1.9 $1.9

$3.9

$2.7 $2.5 $2.2

$1.3 $1.3 $1.3 $1.3 $1.4 $1.4

$1.4

$1.4 $1.3 $1.3

$3.2 $3.1 $3.2 $3.2 $3.2 $3.3

$3.9

$3.7 $3.6 $3.7

$1.2 $1.1 $1.1 $1.1 $1.1 $1.1

$1.1

$1.1 $1.1 $1.2

$0.0

$2.0

$4.0

$6.0

$8.0

$10.0

$12.0

2004 

EN

2005 

EN

2006 

EN

2007 

EN

2008 

EN

2009 

EN

2010 

EN

2011 

EN

2012 

EN

2013 

PB

Infrastructure Financing

Trust Funds

Operating Budget

Categorical Grants

$7.5 $7.6

$8.4 $8.0 

$7.6 $7.7

Notes: 

Totals may not add due to rounding 

The Operating Budget includes funding provided for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. 

FY 2005 Enacted reflects 0.8% Rescission 

FY 2006 Enacted reflects 0.476% rescission plus 1% additional rescission and $80 M rescission to prior year funds. 

 Excludes Hurricane Supplemental funding. 

FY 2008 Enacted includes a 1.56% rescission and $5 M rescission to prior year funds 

FY 2009 Enacted reflects a $10 M rescission to prior year funds 

FY 2009 Enacted excludes ARRA funding 

FY 2010 Enacted reflects a $40 M rescission to prior year funds 

FY 2011 Enacted reflects a 0.2% rescission and $140 M rescission to prior year funds 

FY 2012 Enacted reflects a 0.16% rescission and $50 M rescission to prior year funds 

FY 2013 President’s Budget reflects a $30 M cancellation of prior year funds

$10.3

$8.7 $8.4 $8.3

12
Highlights of Major Budget Changes

Highlights of Major Budget Changes

Climate Change and Air Quality 

Federal Vehicle and Fuels Standards and Certification

(FY 2013 PB: $101.9M, FY 2012 Enacted: $91.9M, FY 2013 Change: +$10.0M) 

Significant changes include:

• $3.3 million of the requested increase will be used in FY 2013 to make further progress addressing 

climate change, by beginning the technical work and analyses necessary to support GHG standards 

for non-road sources, such as locomotives, marine craft, and aircraft. These funds will also update 

scientific tools needed to evaluate new biofuel fuel pathways and technologies

• $1.8 million of the request will bolster the EPA’s certification and compliance testing programs, which 

are struggling to keep up with an increase in demand for EPA vehicle and engine certifications, 

increasing diversity of sophisticated technologies, and an expanding universe of engines to monitor, 

particularly in the area of imported small engines. In FY 2013, the EPA will increase its oversight and 

testing rate for small imported engines. A high fraction of those engines fail the EPA’s tests at the 

current limited rate of testing.

• A $1.3 million increase will support the procurement and installation of new heavy-duty truck chassis 

test equipment at the EPA’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory. This equipment is 

critical to the EPA’s ability to conduct compliance testing of heavy-duty trucks weighing up to 80 

thousand pounds for compliance with EPA GHG emission standards and NHTSA fuel efficiency 

standards. This equipment is required to ensure that all manufacturers are treated fairly when 

enforcing compliance with the new standards. 

Climate Protection Program

(FY 2013 PB: $108.0M, FY 2012 Enacted: $99.5M, FY 2013 Change: +$8.5M)

Significant changes include:

• Requested increase of $4.2 million for the Energy Star program for oversight of the third-party 

certification system for ENERGY STAR products and the implementation of the EPA’s verification 

process for residential, commercial and industrial buildings. The increase will improve quality control 

over the ENERGY STAR product labeling program and revise product and building specifications to 

advance energy efficiency. 

• Requested $2.9 million increase will support the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. The additional 

resources will handle increases in the general reporting and verification workload across the many 

industry sectors and emission sources as well as our work with states.

Federal Stationary Source Regulations (FY 2013 PB: $34.1M, FY 2012 Enacted: $27.3M, FY 2013 Change: +$6.8M) 

• Requested increase includes $2.0 million for the development of New Source Performance 

Standards that address greenhouse gases. This will support analyses using the latest science and 

data to make determinations whether regulation of GHG emissions from certain source categories is 

warranted, and to develop and issue rulemakings as appropriate.

• $2.7 million of the requested increase will be used more efficiently to coordinate actions to meet 

multiple CAA objectives for controlling both criteria and toxic air pollutants while considering cost 

effectiveness, the technical feasibility of controls, and provide greater certainty for regulated industry. 

$2.4 million of the requested increase is needed to review criteria pollutant standards in accordance 

with the CAA statutory schedule.

13
Highlights of Major Budget Changes

Climate Protection (S&T)

(FY 2013 PB: $7.8M, FY 2012 Enacted: $16.3M, FY 2013 Change: -$8.5M) 

• A reduction of $16.3 million reflects the elimination of funding associated with the EPA’s Clean 

Automotive Technology (CAT) program. In FY 2013 other Federal research programs such as DOE’s 

Vehicles Technology program will support the development of advanced technologies. 

• Expert staff and resources ($7.8 million) in the Climate Change program will carry out necessary

implementation and compliance functions associated with new GHG emission standards for lightduty and heavy-duty vehicles and carry out necessary compliance activities for implementing 

NHTSA’s new CAFE standards.

Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) Grants

(FY 2013 PB: $15.0M, FY 2012 Enacted: $30.0M, FY 2013 Change: -$15.0M) 

• Requested resources support a new approach designed to transition the program away from ongoing 

Federal support. The modified funding strategy will use rebates and revolving loan funds to 

concentrate resources on communities in a limited set of high exposure areas such as near ports and 

freight distribution hubs. 

Radon Program

(FY 2013 PB: $2.2M, FY 2012 Enacted: $4.1M, FY 2013 Change: -$1.9M) 

• This disinvestment of $1.9 million eliminates oversight for the State Indoor Radon Grants, which are 

also being eliminated, and targets remaining resources to implement the Federal Radon Action Plan, 

a multi-year, multi-agency strategy for reducing the risk from radon exposure by leveraging existing 

federal housing programs and more efficiently implementing radon-related activities to have a greater 

impact on public health. 

America’s Waters 

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)

(FY 2013 PB: $300.0M, FY 2012 Enacted: $299.5M, FY 2013 Change: +$0.5M) 

• Requested resources support EPA-led interagency efforts that focus on priority environmental issues 

such as toxic substances, nonpoint source pollution, habitat degradation and loss, and invasive 

species. In FY 2013 special priority will be placed on cleaning up and de-listing Areas of Concern, 

reducing phosphorus contributions from agricultural and urban lands that contribute to harmful algal 

blooms and other water quality impairments, and invasive species prevention. 

Chesapeake Bay Program 

(FY 2013 PB: $72.6M FY 2012 Enacted: $57.3M, FY 2013 Change: +$15.3M)

• Additional requested resources will increase implementation and accountability grants to the six 

Chesapeake Bay states and the District of Columbia to facilitate work on Watershed Implementation 

Plans and integration of state and local efforts, as well as an increase in monitoring grants.

Surface Water Protection

(FY 2013 PB: $211.6M, FY 2012 Enacted: $203.9M, FY 2013 Change: +$7.7M)

• Requested resources will strengthen the EPA’s efforts to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, 

and biological integrity of the nation’s waters. Efforts will include support for partnerships with states 

to address nonpoint source pollution including development and implementation of TMDLs, water 

quality monitoring, NPDES permit issuance support and oversight, WaterSense new product 

development, efforts to promote sustainability, strengthening of water and wastewater infrastructure.

Resources will also support urban communities, especially underserved communities, working to 

achieve their water restoration goals.

14
Highlights of Major Budget Changes

Drinking Water Programs

(FY 2013 PB: $108.3M, FY 2012 Enacted: $102.3M, FY 2013 Change: +$6.0M)

Significant changes include:

• $3.4 million supports efforts to protect the nation’s drinking water supply including developing and 

providing technical assistance and tools to states to facilitate small system compliance, performing 

oversight of state drinking water programs, and re-energizing work associated with regulating 

carcinogenic volatile organic compounds.

• $1.2 million to support upgrading the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) to improve 

compliance monitoring and data flow and quality. 

Wetlands

(FY 2013 PB: $27.7M, FY 2012 Enacted: $21.2M, FY 2013 Change: +$6.5M)

• Requested resources will support the EPA’s implementation of core Clean Water Act responsibilities 

under Section 404 and will increase support to state wetland programs. None of the funds requested 

are for the Enhanced Coordination Procedures for the EPA’s review of Section 404 permit 

applications for Appalachian surface coal mining operations. 

Geographic Programs

(FY 2013 PB: $39.1M, FY 2012 Enacted: $52.9M, FY 2013 Change: -$13.8M)

• Decrease reflects reductions to the Geographic Programs for Puget Sound, Gulf of Mexico, Lake 

Champlain, Long Island Sound, and San Francisco Bay.

Beach / Fish Programs (FY 2013 PB: $0.7M, FY 2012 Enacted: $2.5M, FY 2013 Change: -$1.8M) 

• This decrease to the Beach/Fish Program is because this is a well-established, well-understood

program that can be maintained at the local level. The Beach Program has provided important 

guidance and significant funding which successfully supported by states and local governments in 

establishing their own programs which can continue without federal support. In response to 

reductions in the Fish Advisory Program, the Agency will redirect ongoing work where possible to the 

Food and Drug Administration on joint guidance issued to the public and also will encourage and 

support the states’ implementation of their Fish Advisory Programs.

Marine Pollution

(FY 2013 PB: $11.6M, FY 2012 Enacted: $12.9M, FY 2013 Change: -$1.3M)

• This reflects a reduction in ocean monitoring and assessment activities to those activities that are 

required by regulation. 

Water Infrastructure

State Revolving Funds (SRFs) 

(FY 2013 PB: $2,025.0M, FY 2012 Enacted: $2,384.3M, FY 2013 Change: -$359.3M)

• The FY 2013 Budget request of $2,025 million includes $1,175 million for the Clean Water SRF and 

$850 million for the Drinking Water SRF. This funding level continues the Federal commitment to 

provide annual capitalization to the State Revolving Funds that will enable EPA partners to improve 

wastewater treatment, address nonpoint sources of pollution and estuary revitalization, and to help 

ensure that water is safe to drink.

 

Infrastructure Assistance: Mexico Border 

(FY 2013 PB: $10.0M, FY 2012 Enacted: $5.0M, FY 2013 Change: +$5.0M)

• The requested resources will provide funding for critical drinking water and wastewater services to 

border residents that reduce public health risks and improve the environment for U.S. citizens. 

15
Highlights of Major Budget Changes

State and Tribal Partnerships

State and Local Air Quality Management Grants

(FY 2013 PB: $301.5M, FY 2012 Enacted: $235.7M, FY 2013 Change: +$65.8M)

• $25.0 million of the requested increase will be used to assist in permitting sources of greenhouse gas 

emissions. The Agency will reach out to smaller sources to assist in identifying ways to reduce 

greenhouse gas emissions. 

• $24.3 million of the requested increase will be used to support expanded core state workload for 

implementing revised and more stringent NAAQS, and reducing public exposure to air toxics. 

• $15.0 million of the requested increase is for additional state air monitors required by revised NAAQS. 

• $1.5 million of the requested increase will support the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule used by 

states to facilitate the collection, review and use of greenhouse gas emissions data.

Tribal General Assistance Program Grants 

(FY 2013 PB: $96.4M, FY 2012 Enacted: $67.6M, FY 2013 Change: +$28.7M)

• Increase will help build tribal capacity and assist tribes in leveraging other EPA and federal funding to 

contribute towards a higher overall level of environmental and human health protection for this 

underserved population.

Water Pollution Control Grants (Sect. 106) 

(FY 2013 PB: $265.3M, FY 2012 Enacted: $238.4M, FY 2013 Change: +$26.9M) 

• Requested increase will strengthen the state, interstate and tribal base programs, to provide 

additional resources to address TMDL, and wet weather issues Also, in FY 2013, the EPA will 

designate $15.0 million of the additional funds for states that commit to strengthening their nutrient 

management efforts consistent with EPA Office of Water guidance issued in March 2011.

Environmental Information Grants (FY 2013 PB: $15.2M, FY 2012 Enacted: $10.0M, FY 2013 Change: +$5.2M) 

• This increase enables Exchange Network (EN) state, tribal and territorial partners to expand ereporting by adapting, installing and implementing a suite of data collection and publishing services, 

with a focus on those states that do not yet have the capabilities to comply with e-reporting 

requirements under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. 

Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Grants 

(FY 2013 PB: $109.7M, FY 2012 Enacted: $105.3M, FY 2013 Change: +$4.4M) 

• Requested resources will be used to replace the EPA-developed, state-operated SDWIS/State with a 

new, more efficient system and for states to provide greater technical assistance and oversight.

Beaches Protection Categorical Grants 

(FY 2013 PB: $0.0M, FY 2012 Enacted: $9.9M, FY 2013 Change: -$9.9M) 

• The EPA has worked with state, tribal, and territorial governments for over ten years to develop their 

capacity to implement beach monitoring programs. Many of these non-federal agencies now have the 

ability and knowledge to run their own programs without federal support. 

Radon Categorical Grants

(FY 2013 PB: $0.0M, FY 2012 Enacted: $8.0M, FY 2013 Change: -$8.0M) 

• This is a mature program that has achieved significant progress over the 23 years of its existence in 

mitigating radon exposure and building capacity at the local and state government level to continue 

radon protection efforts without federal support.

16
Highlights of Major Budget Changes

Enforcement and Compliance

Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance

(FY 2013 PB: $615.9M, FY 2012 Enacted: $582.4M, FY 2013 Change: +$33.5M)

Significant changes include:

• Redirection of approximately $18 million is to support Next Generation Compliance, to implement new 

approaches and technologies that will promote increased compliance with the nation’s environmental 

laws. 

• $3.6 million to maintain the capacity and support for litigation, investigation, and inspection efforts. 

• $2.5 million to provide for Deepwater Horizon litigation support, discovery management, and the 

continuing civil investigation against existing and potential additional defendants.

• Reduction of $1.7 million from Superfund Federal Facilities will impact efforts to monitor site cleanup, 

to address noncompliance, and to oversee remedial work being conducted at federal facilities.

• Reduction of $1.3 million from forensics support for the National Enforcement Investigations Center 

(NEIC) in order to support higher priority enforcement activities which will impact support for civil 

enforcement cases under CERCLA authorities. 

Chemical Safety 

Chemical Risk Review and Reduction

(FY 2013 PB: $67.6M, FY 2012 Enacted $56.5M, FY 2013 Change: +$11.1M) 

• Requested resources will more fully implement the Administrator’s Enhancing Chemical Safety 

priority to reduce and assess chemical risks and obtain needed information on potentially hazardous 

chemicals. Increase will enable the EPA to: initiate five to ten new risk management actions; 

complete alternative assessments for four additional chemicals; initiate five to ten detailed 

assessments; issue 75 more test rules for existing chemicals; increase the number of HPV chemicals 

with completed hazard characterizations; double percentage of existing CBI cases; digitize 

approximately 16,000 TSCA documents; and implement enhancements to IT systems and related 

rules/guidance (e-reporting, etc.).

Chemical Risk Management

(FY 2013 PB: $3.7M, FY 2012 Enacted $6.0M, FY 2013 Change: -$2.3M) 

• This decrease reflects elimination of the fibers program and a reduction to guidance to manage the 

disposal of PCBs. 

Endocrine Disruptors

(FY 2013 PB: $7.2M, FY 2012 Enacted $8.3M, FY 2013 Change: -$1.0M) 

• This decrease anticipates savings from validation and use of computational toxicology and high 

throughput screening methods to assess potential chemical toxicity.

Healthy Communities 

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

(FY 2013 PB: $117.3M, FY 2012 Enacted: $112.5M, FY 2013 Change: +$4.8M)

Significant changes include:

• $2 million request is for the necessary initial program investments to allow for the development of the 

e-manifest system. Funds will cover IT resources and the services of a vendor to build the system 

from commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software.

 

17
Highlights of Major Budget Changes

Environmental Outreach 

(FY 2013 PB: $5.0M, FY 2012 Enacted: $0.0M, FY 2013 Change: +$5.0M)

• $5.0 million request is to integrate environmental outreach activities into existing environmental 

programs under a streamlined and coordinated approach across the Offices of Water, Air and 

Radiation, Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, and Solid Waste and Emergency Response. 

Oil Spill: Prevention, Preparedness and Response

(FY 2013 PB: $19.3M, FY 2012 Enacted: $14.7M, FY 2013 Change: +$4.6M)

• $4.6 million requested increase will be used to increase the number of inspections on high-risk 

Facility Response Plan (FRP) oil facilities and to develop and implement a third party audit program 

for non-high-risk Spill Prevention, Containment & Countermeasures (SPCC) oil facilities.

Tribal Capacity Building

(FY 2013 PB: $15.1M, FY 2012 Enacted: $13.7M, FY 2013 Change: +$1.4M)

• Requested resources support tribal capacity efforts through development, support, and 

implementation of planning tools and data management systems to identify environmental issues. 

Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE)

(FY 2013 PB: $2.1M, FY 2012 Enacted: $0.0M, FY 2013 Change: +$2.1M)

• This requested increase will support awarding up to 20 CARE assistance agreements to communities 

to improve local environmental and human health. 

State and Local Prevention and Preparedness

(FY 2013 PB: $14.9M, FY 2012 Enacted: $13.3M, FY 2013 Change: +$1.6M)

• Requested $1.6 million increase will support additional high-risk chemical facility inspections in the 

Risk Management Plan program. 

Environmental Education

(FY 2013 PB: $0.0M, FY 2012 Enacted: $9.7M, FY 2013 Change: -$9.7M)

• Due to competing budgetary priorities, the Agency is eliminating funding from the Environmental 

Education program to support other mission critical programs, initiatives and activities that more 

directly support the Administrator’s highest priorities. 

Research 

Research Program

(FY 2013 PB: $575.6M, FY 2012 Enacted: $568.0M, FY 2013 Change: +$7.6M) 

• Includes $8 million to expand work with DOE and the USGS on a Hydraulic Fracturing Study 

analyzing the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on air, ecosystem and water quality. 

• Other increases for research include: 

• $4.1 million for sustainable molecular design research

• $3.3 million for climate change

• $2.0 million to support a Center for Innovative Estuarine Approaches

• $1.8 million to integrate both natural and built water infrastructure

• $1.8 million for biofuels

• $1.5 million to air monitors

• Research decreases include: 

• $2.0 million from the EPA Laboratory Study

• $1.0 million from effects of cleaning materials in school settings

• $1.9 million from the development of exposure assessment tools

• $1.1 from beaches research

18
Highlights of Major Budget Changes

Superfund

Superfund Program

(FY 2013 PB: $1,176.4M, FY 2012 Enacted: $1,213.8M, FY 2013 Change: -$37.4M) 

Significant changes include:

• A $33.2 million cut that downsizes the overall Superfund Remedial program to give priority to 

completing projects at various stages in the response process as opposed to starting new project 

phases. This reduction will result in a reduction in the number of site assessments, remedial 

investigation/feasibility studies (RI/FSs), remedial designs (RDs), remedial actions (RAs), and postconstruction operations. The targeted number of sites achieving human exposures under control and 

groundwater migration under control will be maintained.

• A reduction of $5.8 million results in the discontinuation of the automatic transfer of Superfund 

funding to support other Federal Agencies. Funding may be pursued for Superfund-related support 

services on an as-needed basis through inter-agency agreements. 

Homeland Security 

Homeland Security 

(FY 2013 PB: $102.3M, FY 2012 Enacted: $102.1M, FY 2013 Change: $0.3M) 

• Among other areas, this change includes a reduction to the Water Security Initiative as well as 

increases to support Regional Homeland Security Centers of Expertise. The EPA will continue to 

maintain its existing state of preparedness to respond to events. 

19
20
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air 

Quality 

Strategic Goal: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop adaptation 

strategies to address climate change, and protect and improve air quality. 

 

Resource Summary 

(Dollars in Thousands)

FY 2011 

Enacted

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013 

President’s 

Budget 

Difference

FY 2012 EN

to FY 2013

PresBud

1 - Address Climate Change $207,378 $200,463 $240,279 $39,815

2 - Improve Air Quality $823,059 $768,929 $825,362 $56,433

3 - Restore the Ozone Layer $18,102 $17,998 $18,528 $530

4 - Reduce Unnecessary 

 Exposure to Radiation $40,935 $38,778 $40,411 $1,633

 Goal 1 Total $1,089,473 $1,026,169 $1,124,581 $98,412

Workyears 2,855 2,724 2,783 59

NOTE: Numbers may not add due to rounding. 

Introduction

The EPA has dedicated itself to protecting and improving the quality of the Nation’s air 

to promote public health and protect the environment. Air pollution concerns are diverse 

and significant, and include: greenhouse gases (GHGs) and climate change, outdoor 

and indoor air quality, stratospheric ozone depletion, and radiation protection. 

Since passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments in 1990, nationwide air quality has 

improved significantly. Despite this progress, in 2010 about 124 million Americans 

(about 40% of the US population) lived in counties with air that did not meet healthbased standards for at least one pollutant. Long-term exposure to elevated levels of 

certain air pollutants has been associated with increased risk of cancer, premature 

mortality, and damage to the immune, neurological, reproductive, cardiovascular, and 

respiratory systems. Short-term exposure to elevated levels of certain air pollutants can 

exacerbate asthma and lead to other adverse health effects and economic costs 

including; the impacts associated with increased air pollution levels affect productivity 

and the economy through missed work and school days. Degradation of views in 

13.4% of Budget

21
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

national and state parks is difficult to quantify but is likely to impact tourism and quality 

of life. 

The issues of highest importance facing the air program over the next few years will 

continue to be ozone and particulate air pollution, including interstate transport of these 

air pollutants; emissions from transportation sources; toxic air pollutants; indoor air 

pollutants; and GHGs. The EPA uses a variety of approaches to reduce pollutants in 

indoor and outdoor air. Strategies include traditional regulatory tools; innovative marketbased techniques; public- and private-sector partnerships; community-based 

approaches; voluntary programs that promote environmental stewardship; and 

programs that encourage cost-effective technologies and practices. 

Among the most common sources of air pollution are highway motor vehicles and their 

fuels. The EPA establishes national emissions standards for each of these sources to 

reduce emissions of air pollution. The Agency also provides emissions and fuel 

economy information for new cars, and educates consumers on the ways their actions 

affect the environment. The EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard program and motor 

vehicle greenhouse gas standards have already begun changing the cars Americans 

drive and the fuels they use. The supply and diversity of biofuels in America is growing 

every year, and a new generation of automobile technologies, including several new 

plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles, continues to “hit the road.” 

The EPA is responsible for establishing test procedures needed to estimate the fuel 

economy of new vehicles, and for verifying car manufacturers’ data on fuel economy 

and pollutant emissions. The Agency is completing efforts to increase its testing and 

certification capacity to ensure that new vehicles, engines, and fuels are in compliance 

with new vehicle and fuel standards. In particular, compared to conventional vehicles, 

advanced technology vehicles like Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) and Battery 

Electric Vehicles (EV) require new, additional testing capabilities. Ensuring compliance 

with the Administration’s new fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards is vital to 

reducing dependence on oil and saving consumers’ money at the pump. The EPA will 

continue to implement a national program to reduce GHGs from light-duty and heavyduty mobile sources. The national program of fuel economy and greenhouse gas 

standards for light-duty vehicles alone will save approximately 12 billion barrels of oil 

and prevent 6 billion metric tons of GHG emissions over the lifetimes of the vehicles 

sold through model year 2025. 

The EPA’s air toxic control programs are critical to the Agency’s continued progress in 

reducing public health risks, and improving the quality of the environment. In FY 2013, 

the EPA will continue to focus on communities with greater levels of industrial and 

mobile source activity (e.g., near ports or distribution areas), which according to the 

2005 National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment often have greater cumulative exposure to 

air toxics than non-industrial areas. Between 2012 and 2013, there are approximately 

70 stationary source (e.g., air toxics) rules due for review and promulgation, 35 of which 

are already on court-ordered deadlines or in litigation. These rules are all in some stage 

of development now. Working with litigants and stakeholders, and informed by analyses 

22
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

of air quality health risk data, the EPA is working to prioritize a more limited set of air 

toxics regulations that can be completed expeditiously and that will address the most 

significant risks to public health. 

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to address the impacts of climate change through 

careful, cost-effective rulemaking and voluntary programs that encourage businesses 

and consumers to limit unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions. The climate is 

warming, as evidenced by observations in the scientific literature that show increasing 

temperatures, rising sea levels, and widespread melting of snow and ice. Heat-trapping 

greenhouse gases are now at record-high levels in the atmosphere compared to the 

recent and distant past, a clear result of human activity. As the number of days with 

extremely hot temperatures increase, severe heat waves are projected to intensify and 

lead to heat-related mortality and sickness. Also, with time, more Americans are likely to 

be affected by certain diseases that thrive in areas with higher temperatures and greater 

precipitation, including pest-borne diseases and food and water-borne pathogens. The 

costs of these impacts of climate change include increased hospital visits, respiratory 

and cardiovascular diseases, and even premature death – especially for certain 

vulnerable populations like the elderly, the poor, and children. 

Because people spend much of their lives indoors, the quality of indoor air also is a 

major concern. Indoor allergens and irritants play a significant role in making asthma 

worse and triggering asthma attacks. Over 25 million American currently have asthma 

and asthma annually accounts for over 500,000 hospitalizations, 13 million missed 

school days, and over $50 billion in economic costs. 

Major FY 2013 Changes

In FY 2013, resources under Goal 1 are focused on the Agency’s core statutory work in 

reducing public health risks through standards setting, market-driven and partnership 

innovations, and support for state and tribal partners. Recognizing the tight limits on 

discretionary spending across the government, the EPA has evaluated and reprioritized 

its work and made necessary adjustments to focus FY 2013 resources on the Agency’s 

highest priorities. This effort involved strategic reductions and redirections within and 

across programs. In addition, the Agency is proposing to eliminate certain mature 

programs that have succeeded in establishing the expertise at the state and local level 

to implement similar programs, and where there is the possibility of maintaining some of 

the human health benefits through implementation at the local level. Reductions in 

some critical areas in FY 2012 make the FY 2013 resources even more important to 

advancing or even maintaining progress toward longer-term goals. Across the Agency, 

resources have been targeted to: 1) moving toward environmental protection for the 21st

Century by increasing transparency and the use of technology, 2) supporting core 

mission functions, and 3) implementing efficiencies that enhance the effective use of 

limited resources in the long-term. 

Given the nation’s current tight fiscal climate, the EPA is making several significant 

changes in the air program to focus on its highest priorities. The Agency is eliminating 

23
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

the Clean Automotive Technology (CAT) program and reassigning the program’s expert 

staff to address the high priority and increasing workload in vehicle and fuels testing 

related to the historic new GHG and fuel economy standards. The Agency also is 

reducing radon activities by $8.0 million by eliminating categorical grants to states for 

radon and reducing the federal staff in the radon program. These programs have 

resulted in significant institutional improvements over time. 

For work under the strategic objective Improve Air Quality, a funding level of $825.4 

million, $56.4 million over the FY 2012 Enacted budget, will enable the Agency and 

state and tribal partners to conduct statutorily mandated work on the National Ambient 

Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants, including ozone. Included in this 

amount is $289 million in state and tribal grant funding, an increase of $39 million over 

FY 2012. These funds support an expanding core state workload for implementing 

revised and more stringent NAAQS, and for overseeing compliance with air toxics 

regulations. Also included is an increase for additional state air monitors required by 

revised NAAQS. 

The FY 2013 resources are also critical for the EPA to review criteria pollutant 

standards in accordance with the CAA statutory schedule and for the EPA and its state 

and tribal partners to monitor the air that we all breathe in communities across America. 

The requested FY 2013 funding will allow the EPA to continue to coordinate actions to 

meet multiple CAA objectives for controlling both criteria and toxic air pollutants while 

considering their cost effectiveness and the technical feasibility of controls, as well as 

providing greater certainty for regulated industry. The EPA is working to streamline the 

implementation of rules at the federal, state, tribal, and local government level, as well 

as in industry. For example, the EPA has made progress in combining multiple 

standards where they pertain to the same area with a "sector" approach to maximize 

the synergies among standards and reduces costs to the EPA, states, tribes, local 

government and industry. 

An increase of approximately $32.8 million over the FY 2012 Enacted budget for climate 

protection will allow the Agency to support the full range of approaches to reducing 

GHGs and the risks its effects pose to human health and the environment and to 

property. This increase includes $26.5 million for categorical grants to assist states and 

tribes in permitting sources of greenhouse gas emissions and implement the 

Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule In addition, the Energy Star program, the Global 

Methane Initiative, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Rule, and state and local 

technical assistance and partnership programs, such as SmartWay, will all help reduce 

GHGs before it is too late. This level of resources for these programs in FY 2013 is 

critical for the Agency’s efforts to address the impacts of climate change. Without these 

funds, the impacts of climate change are likely to be even worse, in the form of 

increased hospital visits, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and even premature 

death. 

The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant program is funded at $15 million; a 

$15 million reduction from FY 2012 enacted levels. DERA provides immediate emission 

24
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

reductions from existing diesel engines through engine retrofits, rebuilds and 

replacements of older, dirtier engines, switching to cleaner fuels, idling reduction 

strategies, and other clean diesel strategies. While the DERA grants accelerate the 

pace at which dirty engines are retired or retrofitted, pollution emissions from the legacy 

fleet will be reduced over time as portions of the fleet turn over and are replaced with 

new engines that meet modern emissions standards. As such, DERA funding is being 

phased out and will be allocated to a new rebate program and national low-cost 

revolving loan or other financing program that targets the dirtiest, most polluting 

engines. Both approaches would be available to private fleets for the first time and 

enable a more targeted approach to high emissions areas. 

The Agency is eliminating the Clean Automotive Technology (CAT) program in FY 2013 

resulting in a net savings of over $8 million. The 34 technical experts that supported the 

CAT program work will be redeployed to support the growing implementation and 

compliance activities associated with NHTSA CAFE fuel economy and EPA GHG 

emission standards for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles and engines. In FY 2013, 

resources also will support GHG standard setting actions regarding advanced vehicle 

and engine technologies, including light-duty and heavy-duty trucks. 

The Agency also is eliminating Radon Categorical Grants ($8 million in STAG) in FY 

2013 and cutting approximately $2 million from the non-STAG Radon program. 

Exposure to radon gas continues to be a significant risk to human health, and over the 

23 years of its existence, EPA’s radon program has provided important guidance and 

significant funding to help states successfully establish their own programs. At the 

federal level, the EPA will implement the Federal Radon Action Plan, a multi-year, multiagency strategy for reducing the risk from radon exposure by leveraging existing federal 

housing programs and more efficiently implementing radon-related activities to have a 

greater impact on public health. 

For the Air, Climate, and Energy (ACE) research program, an increase of $3.8 million 

above FY 2012 will support an effort to address additional questions regarding the 

safety of hydraulic fracturing (HF). Resources will support ambient air monitoring and 

associated health effects assessments to address the potential impacts of HF on air 

quality, water quality, and ecosystems. 

Priority Goals

The EPA has established an FY 2012-2013 Priority Goal to improve the country’s ability 

to measure and control Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The Priority Goal is: 

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Through September 30, 

2013, the EPA, in coordination with DOT's fuel economy standards program, will be 

implementing vehicle and truck greenhouse gas standards that are projected to 

25
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

reduce GHG emissions by 1.2 billion metric tons and reduce oil consumption by 

about 98 billion gallons over the lifetime of the affected vehicles and trucks. 

Additional information on the Agency's Priority Goals can be found at 

www.performance.gov. 

FY 2013 Activities

Reducing GHG Emissions and Developing Adaptation Strategies to Address 

Climate Change 

Responding to the threat of climate change is one of the Agency's top priorities. The 

EPA’s strategy to address climate change supports the President’s greenhouse gas 

reduction goals. Climate change poses risks to public health, the environment, cultural 

resources, the economy, and quality of life. Many impacts of climate change are already 

evident and some will persist into the future. Climate change impacts include increased 

temperatures and more stagnant air masses that make it more challenging to achieve 

air quality standards for smog in many regions of the country. This adversely affects 

public health if areas cannot attain or maintain clean air and increases the costs to local 

communities. 

The Agency will work with partners and stakeholders to provide tools and information 

related to greenhouse gas emissions and impacts and will reduce emissions 

domestically and internationally through cost-effective, voluntary programs while 

pursuing additional regulatory actions as needed. In FY 2013, the Agency will focus on 

core program activities, expand some existing strategies, and discontinue others, 

including: 

 Beginning to implement the important new vehicle fuel economy labelling 

requirements. For the first time, the new label provides consumers with greenhouse 

gas, as well as fuel economy, information. 

 Continuing to implement the harmonized DOT and EPA fuel economy and 

greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for light-duty vehicles (model years 

2012-2016) and heavy-duty vehicles (model years 2014-2018). The EPA will begin 

developing a second phase of heavy-duty GHG regulations that will incorporate a 

complete vehicle approach and bring a wider range of advanced technologies, 

including hybrid vehicle drive trains. The EPA also must consider nine petitions 

asking the Agency to develop GHG emission standards for a wide range of non-road 

equipment, including locomotives, marine craft, and aircraft. 

 Continuing to promote cost-effective corporate GHG management practices and 

provide recognition for superior efforts through a joint award program with nongovernment organizations. As of 2010, the EPA’s voluntary, public private 

partnerships helped businesses, industry and transportation avoid 533 million metric 

tons of carbon equivalent emissions. 

26
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

 Focusing on GHG supply chain management, which will primarily be implemented 

through the ongoing cooperative pilot with the General Services Administration to 

assist small federal suppliers in developing their GHG inventories. 

 Continuing to implement the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. Activities in FY 2013 

will include expanding the database management systems for new sectors, verifying 

reported data, providing guidance and training to reporters, and sharing data with 

the public, within the federal government, with state and local governments, and with 

reporting entities. 

An increase of around $3 million for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program will 

support reporting and verification of emissions across the 31 industry sectors and 

emission sources (10 sectors were added in FY 2010) and approximately 13,000 

reporters as well as work with states across the spectrum of the common by-product 

gases. Work in FY 2013 includes support for uses on how to comply with the rule and 

how to report emissions using the electronic reporting tool as well as how to address 

any potential reporting errors prior to data publication. These resources will provide 

assistance to reporting entities, ensure data accuracy, and provide transparency into 

the major sources of GHG emissions across the nation. An increase of approximately 

$4 million for ENERGY STAR will support oversight of the improved third-party 

certification system for ENERGY STAR products and the implementation of the EPA’s 

verification process for residential, commercial and industrial buildings to safeguard the 

economic and health benefits brought to the market by this program. This increase will 

also support the Agency’s effort to develop an ENERGY STAR fee program. Another 

priority is to support public and private organizations as they implement the full range of 

least cost compliance and mitigation options associated with the EPA's power sector air 

standards. 

Funding for the Clean Automotive Technologies (CAT) program was eliminated in FY 

2013. The CAT program, with its advanced series hybrids and ultra-clean engines, has 

matured and provided a deep understanding of the technology pathways that are 

necessary in order to achieve maximum reductions of criteria and GHG emissions costeffectively from both cars and trucks. FY 2012 will be a transition year in which the CAT 

program will complete work on the highest priority projects, and continue technology 

deployment through various actions including license agreements. In 2013, other 

Federal research programs, such as DOE’s Vehicles Technology program will support 

the development and deployment of advanced automotive technologies. In FY 2013, the 

Agency will refocus the workforce in this program to support implementation and 

compliance with GHG emission standards for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles 

developed under the Federal Vehicle and Fuels Standards and Certification program 

project. In addition, resources will be used to support compliance activities for 

implementing NHTSA’s CAFE standards. Under authorities contained in the Clean Air 

Act and the Energy Policy Act, the EPA is responsible for issuing certificates and 

ensuring compliance with both the GHG and CAFE standards. 

27
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

Improving Air Quality 

Clean Air 

Particulate Matter (PM) is linked to tens of thousands of premature deaths per year and 

repeated exposure to ozone can cause acute respiratory problems and lead to 

permanent lung damage. Short term exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2) can result in 

adverse respiratory effects, including narrowing of the airways which can cause difficulty 

breathing and increased asthma symptoms, particularly in at risk populations including 

children, the elderly, and people with asthma. 

Implementing the existing PM National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), as well 

as the potential revised 2012 PM NAAQS, are among the Agency’s highest priorities for 

FY 2013. The EPA will provide technical and policy assistance to states developing or 

revising attainment State Implementation Plans (SIPs) and will designate areas as 

attainment or nonattainment. The budget includes an additional $39 million in grants to 

support core state workload for implementing NAAQS, reducing exposure to air toxics to 

ensure improved air quality in communities, and for additional air monitors required by 

revised NAAQS. In FY 2013, the EPA will also continue its work with states and 

communities to implement the existing ozone standard. The EPA will provide technical 

and policy assistance to states developing or revising attainment SIPs, and provide 

ongoing assistance in meeting the goals of those plans. The EPA will also provide 

technical and policy assistance to states developing regional haze implementation plans 

and will continue to review and act on SIP submissions in accordance with the Clean Air 

Act. These objectives are supported by an investment of $7.0 million to provide 

technical assistance to state, tribal and local agencies through the Federal Support for 

Air Quality Management program. This support includes source characterization 

analyses, emission inventories, quality assurance protocols, improved testing and 

monitoring techniques, and air quality modeling. 

The EPA will continue to implement the new Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS2) 

program and carry out several other actions required by the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) 

of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007. The EPA is 

responsible for establishing test procedures needed to estimate the fuel economy of 

new vehicles and for verifying car manufacturers’ data on fuel economy. In FY 2013, the 

EPA will continue implementing its plan to upgrade its vehicle, engine, and fuel testing 

capabilities at the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL), addressing 

the need to increase testing and certification capacity to ensure that new vehicles, 

engines, and fuels are in compliance with new vehicle and fuel standards. In 2011, the 

EPA provided certifications for over 4,000 different types of engines – a workload that 

has quadrupled over the past decade. The EPA’s workload will continue to grow, as the 

Agency begins to implement new and more stringent GHG emission standards 

promulgated in 2012 and 2013 for additional classes of vehicles and engines. 

The requested FY 2013 resources are required to operate the new testing facilities and 

run new test procedures associated with the increased breadth and complexity of 

28
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

standards. Resources will support activities such as oversight of certification and 

compliance requirements for the expanding number of vehicles and engines the EPA 

regulates. These include hybrid and biofuel vehicles, advanced technology vehicles, 

engines entering the market in response to the EPA’s new GHG emission standards, 

and foreign imports. Resources will also support oversight of credit trading under both 

fuels and engine regulations and will be used to develop and manage data systems 

designed to make it easier for the regulated community to comply with EPA standards 

by reducing reporting burdens. 

Air Toxics 

The Agency will continue to work with state and local air pollution control agencies and 

community groups to assess and address air toxics emissions in areas of greatest 

concern, including in disproportionately impacted communities and where the most 

vulnerable members of our population live, work, and go to school. 

One of the top priorities for the air toxics program is to eliminate unacceptable health 

risks and cumulative exposures to air toxics from multiple sources in affected 

communities and to enable the Agency to fulfill its Clean Air Act (CAA) and courtordered obligations. The CAA requires that the technological basis for all technologybased standards be reviewed and updated as necessary every eight years. In FY 2013, 

the EPA will continue to conduct risk assessments to determine whether the 

technology-based rules appropriately protect public health. 

In addition to meeting CAA requirements, the EPA will continue development of its 

multi-pollutant and sector based efforts by constructing and organizing analyses around 

industrial sectors. By addressing individual sectors’ emissions comprehensively and 

prioritizing regulatory efforts on the pollutants of greatest concern, the EPA will develop 

consolidated, more effective, lower-cost technological improvements in the sectors. The 

EPA will continue to look at all pollutants in an industrial sector and identify ways to take 

advantage of the co-benefits of pollution control. In developing sector and multi-pollutant 

approaches, the Agency seeks innovative solutions that address the differing nature of 

the various sectors and minimizes costs to the EPA, states, tribes, local governments 

and the regulated community. In FY 2013, an increase of $2.7 million will be used to 

coordinate actions for controlling both criteria and toxic air pollutants to achieve 

objectives of the Clean Air Act, maximize cost effectiveness, and provide greater 

certainty to industry. 

 

The EPA will continue to improve the dissemination of information to state, local and 

tribal governments, and the public, using analytical tools such as the National Air 

Pollution Assessment (NAPA) and National Air Toxic Assessment (NATA), enhancing 

quantitative benefits assessment tools such as BenMAP, improving emission inventory 

estimates for toxic air pollutants, and managing information for regulated entities 

electronically in a single location by modernizing the Air Facility System (AFS) 

database. The EPA anticipates that these improvements will increase the Agency’s 

29
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

ability to meet aggressive court-ordered schedules to complete rulemaking activities, 

especially in the Risk Technology Review program. 

Indoor Air 

Twenty percent of the population, including students, teachers and administrative staff, 

spend the day inside elementary and secondary schools. If these schools have 

problems with leaky roofs and poor heating, ventilation, or air conditioning systems, the 

result can be the increased presence of molds and other environmental allergens which 

can trigger a host of health problems, including asthma and allergies. Over the past four 

years, at least 16,000 health care professionals have been trained by the EPA and its 

partners on environmental management of asthma triggers. Additionally, approximately 

1/3 of our nation’s schools now have effective indoor air quality management programs 

in place. It is estimated that 2.7 million homes with high radon levels have, with the help 

of the EPA and its partners, been returned to acceptable levels or have been built with 

new radon-reducing features. 

In the Reduce Risks from Indoor Air program ($17.8 million), the EPA will continue to 

promote comprehensive asthma care that integrates management of environmental 

asthma triggers and health care services by building community capacity for delivering 

comprehensive asthma care programs through the Communities in Action for AsthmaFriendly Environments Campaign. The EPA will place a particular emphasis on 

protecting vulnerable populations, including children, and low-income and minority 

populations. 

The EPA will continue to update its existing program guidance to provide clear and 

verifiable protocols and specifications for ensuring good indoor air quality across a 

range of building types during multiple phases of the building life cycle. The EPA will 

collaborate with public and private sector organizations to integrate these protocols and 

specifications more efficiently into existing energy-efficiency, green-building and healthrelated programs and initiatives. FY 2013 activities will focus on equipping the 

affordable housing sector with training and guidance to promote the adoption of these 

best practices with the aim of creating healthy, energy-efficient homes for low income 

families. 

In FY 2013, with the elimination of Radon Categorical Grants and reduction to the radon 

program of approximately $2 million, this program will focus on efficiently promoting 

radon risk reduction in homes and schools. Using information dissemination, social 

marketing techniques, and partnerships with federal agencies and public health and 

environmental organizations, the EPA will drive action by implementing the Federal 

Radon Action Plan, published in June 2011. These actions will promote testing for 

indoor radon, fixing homes and schools when radon levels are high, and building new 

homes and schools with radon-resistant features. 

30
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

Stratospheric Ozone 

The stratospheric ozone program ($15.3 million) implements the provisions of the Clean 

Air Act Amendments of 1990 (the Act) and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that 

Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol). Under the Act and the Protocol, the EPA 

is authorized to control and reduce ozone depleting substances (ODS) in the US, and to 

contribute to the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund. As of January 1, 2010, ODS 

production and imports were capped at 3,810 ODP-weighted metric tons, which is 25 

percent of the U.S. baseline under the Montreal Protocol. In 2015, U.S. production and 

import will be reduced further, to 10 percent of the U.S. baseline, and in 2020, all 

production and import will be phased out except for exempted amounts. As ODS and 

many of their substitutes are potent GHGs, appropriate control and reduction of these 

substances also provides significant benefits for climate protection. The Act provides for 

a phase out of production and consumption of ODS and requires controls on their use, 

including banning certain emissive uses, requiring labeling to inform consumer choices 

and requiring sound servicing practices for the use of ODS in various products (e.g., air 

conditioning and refrigeration). As a signatory to the Montreal Protocol, the United 

States is committed to ensuring that our domestic program is at least as stringent as 

international obligations and to regulating and enforcing its terms domestically. In FY 

2013, the EPA will focus its work to ensure that ODS production and import caps under 

the Montreal Protocol and Clean Air Act continue to be met.

Radiation

In FY 2013, the EPA Radiation program ($21.8 million), in cooperation with other federal 

agencies, states, tribes, and international radiation protection organizations, will develop 

and use voluntary and regulatory programs, public information, and training to protect 

the public from unnecessary exposures to radiation. In response to advances in 

uranium production processes and mining operations, the Agency is updating its 

radiation protection standards for the uranium fuel cycle, which were developed over 30 

years ago. In FY 2013, the EPA’s Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT) will 

maintain and improve the level of readiness to support federal radiological emergency 

response and recovery operations under the National Response Framework (NRF) and 

the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The 

National RadNet ambient radiation air monitoring system, which includes the country’s 

100 most populous cities, will provide data to assist in protective action determinations. 

Research 

Environmental challenges in the 21st Century continue to be complex as the links 

between stressors such as climate change, urbanization, and air quality become better 

understood. These complex challenges require different thinking and solutions than 

those used in the past. Reducing risk can no longer be the only approach to 

environmental protection. Industry and government are turning to solutions that 

enhance economic growth and social well-being, as well as protect public health and 

the environment. These solutions require research that transcends disciplinary lines and 

31
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

includes all stakeholders in the process. The process includes the EPA’s regional and 

program offices as well as other stakeholders including states and communities who 

rely on the research. With the partners and stakeholders, the EPA researchers define 

the research needs and how the solutions will be integrated. These new, integrated, 

transdisciplinary approaches require innovation at all steps of the process. Ultimately, 

the EPA is seeking technological innovations that support environmentally responsible 

solutions and foster new economic development. 

In FY 2013, the EPA is strengthening its planning and delivery of science by continuing 

the more integrated research approach begun in FY 2012. Integrated research looks at 

problems more systematically and holistically. This approach will yield benefits beyond 

those possible from more narrowly targeted approaches that focus on single chemicals 

or problem areas. 

A robust air monitoring network is vital to the nation’s air quality. Air monitoring tools 

measure and track pollutants, identify pollutant sources, and inform how and where 

Americans are exposed to air pollutants. Many of the existing monitoring technologies 

used in the national networks are decades old and are costly. The complexity of 

environmental issues at local, national, and international levels requires more advanced 

and comprehensive monitoring. In FY 2013, the EPA plans to develop efficient, highperforming, and cost-effective monitors for ambient air pollutants. Such monitors will 

replace outdated techniques, produce more detailed information, and reduce the cost of 

monitoring for the EPA, states, and local agencies. 

The Air, Climate and Energy (ACE) program conducts research on environmental and 

human health impacts related to air pollution, climate change, and biofuels. Protecting 

human health and the environment from the effects of air pollution and climate change, 

while simultaneously meeting the demands of a growing population and economy is 

critical to the well-being of the nation and the world. Exposure to an evolving array of air 

pollutants is a considerable challenge on human health and the environment. This 

multifaceted environment reflects the interplay of air quality, the changing climate, and 

emerging energy options. By integrating air, climate and energy research, the EPA can 

better understand, define and address the complexity of these interactions. The Agency 

will provide models and tools necessary for communities and for decision makers at all 

levels of government to make the best decisions. 

For example, the ACE research program will improve the widely used Community 

Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system. State and local agencies and the EPA 

rely on this tool to implement the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). 

Specifically, nations, states, and communities use CMAQ to model how air pollution 

levels change when different emission reduction alternatives are used. With this tool, 

decision-makers can test a range of strategies and determine what approach best fits 

their situation. Improvements to CMAQ will increase users’ capability to accurately 

model changes in ozone, particulate matter, and hazardous air pollutant concentrations. 

The CMAQ model has over 1,500 users in the U.S. and 1,000 more in over 50 

countries. 

32
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

The ACE research program will continue to address critical science questions under 

three major research themes. 

Theme 1: Assess Impacts – Assess human and ecosystem exposures and effects 

associated with air pollutants and climate change. Evaluate the effects of air pollution 

and climate change on individuals, ecosystems, communities, and regions (including 

the effects on those most susceptible or vulnerable). 

Theme 2: Prevent and Reduce Emissions – Provide the science needed to develop and 

evaluate approaches to preventing and reducing harmful air emissions. The EPA 

decision makers and other stakeholders need such data and methods to analyze the full 

life-cycle impacts of new and existing energy technologies. With ACE’s data, decision 

makers can determine which energy choices are most economically, socially, and 

environmentally appropriate. 

Theme 3: Respond to Changes in Climate and Air Quality – Provide modeling and 

monitoring tools, metrics, and information on air pollution exposure. Individuals, 

communities, and 

governmental agencies will 

use these tools and 

information to make public 

health decisions related to air 

quality and climate change. 

ACE research incorporates 

economic and social factors 

that may influence 

anticipated environmental 

results. 

Figure 1: Integration of Air, Climate, 

and Energy1

Figure 1, “Integration of Air, 

Climate, and Energy,” illustrates 

the relationships among air, 

climate, and energy. The figure identifies the major earth and human systems impacted by air pollution 

and climate change. It portrays the responses and social factors influencing the relationships among 

each. 

In FY 2013, research will study the generation, fate, transport, and chemical 

transformation of air emissions to identify individual and population health risks. The 

ACE research program considers the environmental impacts of energy production and 

use across the full life cycle. For example, increased use of wood in residences can 

reduce greenhouse gas emissions but cause local air pollution problems. The program 

 

1

 Adapted from IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II, and III 

to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 

33
Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

will incorporate air, climate, and energy research to ensure the development of 

sustainable solutions and attainment of statutory goals in a complex multi-pollutant 

environment. The ACE program will conduct research to better understand and assess 

the effects of global change on air quality, water quality, aquatic ecosystems, land use, 

human health and social wellbeing. 

In addition, the program will conduct systems-based sustainability analyses that include 

environmental, social and economic dimensions. The EPA’s FY 2013 hydraulic 

fracturing research request will enable assessment of potential air, ecosystem and 

water quality impacts of hydraulic fracturing. The EPA, with the Department of Energy 

and the Department of the Interior, will study the impacts of developing our nation’s 

unconventional oil and gas resources. This effort will promote a better understanding of 

potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing and complement current hydraulic fracturing 

research efforts. This research will help our nation to safely and prudently develop oil 

and gas resources. 

34
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters 

Strategic Goal: Protect and restore our waters to ensure that drinking water is safe, 

and that aquatic ecosystems sustain fish, plants and wildlife, and economic, 

recreational, and subsistence activities.

 

 Resource Summary 

(Dollars in Thousands)

FY 2011 

Enacted

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013 

President’s 

Budget 

Difference

FY 2012 EN

to FY 2013 

PresBud

1 - Protect Human Health $1,334,544 $1,295,539 $1,216,766 ($78,773)

2 - Protect and Restore Watersheds 

 and Aquatic Ecosystems $2,891,568 $2,798,914 $2,565,462 ($233,452)

 Goal 2 Total $4,226,112 $4,094,452 $3,782,228 ($312,224)

Workyears 3,456 3,459 3,419 (40)

NOTES: Numbers may not add due to rounding. FY 2013 President’s Budget totals exclude a $30 million cancellation, which will impact Goal 2. 

Introduction

While much progress has been made, America’s waters remain imperiled. Increased 

demands, land use practices, population growth, aging infrastructure, and climate 

variability continue to pose challenges to our nation's water resources. The latest 

national surveys1

 confirm that America’s waters are stressed by nutrient pollution, 

excess sedimentation, and degradation of shoreline vegetation, which affect more than 

50 percent of our lakes and streams. The rate at which new waters are listed for water 

quality impairments exceeds the pace at which restored waters are removed from the 

list. For many years, nonpoint source pollution, principally nitrogen, phosphorus, and 

sediments, has been recognized as the largest remaining impediment to improving 

water quality. However, pollution discharged from industrial, municipal, agricultural, and 

stormwater point sources continue to cause a decline in the quality of our waters. Other 

significant contributors to degraded water quality include loss of habitat, habitat 

 

1

 U.S. EPA, 2006. Wadeable Streams Assessment: A Collaborative Survey of the Nation’s Streams. EPA 841-B-06-

002. Available at http://www.epa.gov/owow/streamsurvey. See also EPA, 2010. National Lakes Assessment: A 

Collaborative Survey of the Nation’s Lakes. EPA 841-R-09-001. Available at 

http://www.epa.gov/lakessurvey/pdf/nla_chapter0.pdf.

45.2% of Budget

35
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

fragmentation, and changes in the way water is infiltrated into soils, runs off the land, 

and flows down streams (hydrologic alteration). 

From nutrient loadings and stormwater runoff to invasive species and drinking water 

contaminants, water quality programs face complex challenges that can be addressed 

effectively only through a combination of traditional and innovative strategies. The EPA 

will work hand-in-hand with states and tribes to develop and implement nutrient limits 

and intensify our work to restore and protect the quality of the nation’s streams, rivers, 

lakes, bays, oceans, and aquifers. We will continue the increased focus on 

communities, particularly those disadvantaged communities facing disproportionate 

impacts or having been historically underserved. We also will use our authority to 

protect and restore threatened natural treasures such as the Great Lakes, the 

Chesapeake Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico; to address our neglected urban rivers; to 

ensure safe drinking water; and to reduce pollution from nonpoint and industrial 

dischargers. The EPA will continue to address post-construction runoff, water-quality 

impairments from surface mining, and drinking water contamination. 

As part of the Administration’s long-term strategy, the EPA is implementing a 

Sustainable Water Infrastructure Policy that focuses on working with states and 

communities to enhance technical, managerial and financial capacity. Important to the 

enhanced technical capacity will be alternatives analyses to expand "green 

infrastructure" options and their multiple benefits. Federal dollars provided through the 

State Revolving Funds will act as a catalyst for efficient system-wide planning and 

ongoing management of sustainable water infrastructure. 

The EPA continues to work with its partners across the Federal government to leverage 

resources and avoid duplication of efforts. The EPA and USDA will enhance existing 

coordination efforts in reducing nonpoint source pollution and the EPA will move beyond 

its ongoing study and expand its work with DOE and the USGS on understanding and 

the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing. 

Major FY 2013 Changes

To address resource constraints in the FY 2013 budget and the FY 2012 Enacted 

Budget, the EPA carefully evaluated water program activities to assess where the pace 

of progress could be slowed, where other governmental entities could provide needed 

support, or where programs could be eliminated to allow for necessary redirections to 

fund critical Administration priorities. The EPA will direct limited resources to where they 

can best protect public health, especially in disadvantaged communities; provide 

increased support to state and tribal partners; and focus on the largest pollution 

problems, including nutrient pollution. In light of reductions in some critical areas in FY 

2012, the requested FY 2013 resources are pivotal to enabling the Agency to advance, 

or even maintain, progress toward longer-term goals. 

In FY 2013, funding of $265 million, $27 million above FY 2012, for Section 106 Water 

Pollution Control Grants supports prevention and control measures to improve water 

36
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

quality and address nutrient run-off. The increase, in addition to addressing nutrient 

loads, will strengthen the state, interstate and tribal base programs, provide additional 

resources to address TMDL, monitoring, and wet weather issues and help states 

improve their water quality programs relating to the management of nutrients. An 

addition of $4.4 million to Public Water System Supervision Grants will support state 

data management, improve data quality, and allow the public to access compliance 

monitoring data not previously available. 

In FY 2013, the Budget includes a significant new effort under which the EPA and the 

USDA are working with key Federal partners, along with agricultural producer 

organizations, conservation districts, states, tribes, NGOs and other local leaders to 

identify areas where a focused and coordinated approach can achieve decreases in 

water pollution. The President’s Budget builds upon the collaborative process already 

underway among Federal partners to demonstrate substantial improvements in water 

quality by coordinating efforts between U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and EPA 

programs such as the EPA’s Nonpoint Source Grants and Water Pollution Control 

Grants and USDA’s Farm Bill conservation programs. This coordination will allow for 

more effective, targeted investments at the Federal and State level during a time of 

constrained budgets, and will ensure continued improvements in water quality.Further, 

the EPA will provide $15 million of Section 106 funds to states, interstate agencies and 

tribes that commit to strengthening their nutrient management efforts consistent with the 

EPA’s Office of Water guidance issued in March 2011. 

Increased funding of approximately $15 million above FY 2012 for the Chesapeake Bay 

will help states meet the nutrient reduction goals in the Total Maximum Daily Load 

through State Implementation Grants (SIGs) and implement Phase II Watershed 

Implementation Plans. An increase of $5 million for Mexico Border Infrastructure 

Assistance will help advance the EPA’s work with the Border States and local 

communities in improving the region’s water quality and public health. 

Also in FY 2013, $5.9 million over FY 2012 is requested for the Drinking Water program 

to strengthen efforts to protect the nation’s drinking water supply by providing technical 

assistance to states and systems. The funds also will support upgrading of the Safe 

Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) to improve compliance monitoring and 

data flow and quality. 

In FY 2013, $4.3 million above FY 2012 is provided for the Safe and Sustainable Water 

Resources research program as part of a wider $14 million effort to address additional 

questions regarding the safety of hydraulic fracturing (HF). The research will be in 

collaboration with DOE and USGS under a developing Memorandum of Understanding 

which emphasizes the expertise of each Federal partner, and will include an 

assessment of potential air, ecosystem, and water quality impacts of hydraulic 

fracturing. Consistent with advice from the Science Advisory Board on areas to study, 

this work will ensure an understanding of the full suite of potential impacts of hydraulic 

fracturing and complement current hydraulic fracturing research efforts. 

37
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

In FY 2013, the EPA reduced or eliminated funding to a number of programs. The 

Agency is requesting $2 billion, a reduction of $359 million, for the Clean Water and 

Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. The Administration requests a combined $2 

billion for federal capitalization of the SRFs. This will allow the SRFs to finance over $6 

billion in wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects annually. The 

Administration has strongly supported the SRFs, having received and/or requested 

funding for them totaling over $18 billion since 2009; since their inception, over $52 

billion has been provided for the SRFs. The reduced level will mean fewer water 

infrastructure projects. The EPA will work to target assistance to small and underserved 

communities with limited ability to repay loans, while maintaining state program integrity. 

A number of systems could have access to capital through the Administration’s 

proposed Infrastructure Bank.

In this difficult financial climate, the Agency will eliminate the Beaches Grant Program 

with a reduction of $9.9 million in FY 2013. While beach monitoring continues to be 

important, well-understood guidelines are in place, and state and local government 

programs have the technical expertise and procedures to continue beach monitoring 

without federal support. 

Priority Goals

The EPA has established two FY 2012-2013 Priority Goals to improve water quality. 

The Priority Goals are: 

• Improve, restore, or maintain water quality by enhancing nonpoint source program 

accountability, incentives, and effectiveness. By September 30, 2013, 50% of the 

states will revise their nonpoint source program according to new Section 319 grant 

guidelines that the EPA will release in November 2012. 

• Improve public health protection for persons served by small drinking water systems 

by strengthening the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of those systems. 

By September 30, 2013, the EPA will engage with twenty states to improve small 

drinking water system capability through two EPA programs, the Optimization 

Program and/or the Capacity Development Program. 

Additional information on the Agency's Priority Goals can be found at 

www.performance.gov. 

FY 2013 Activities

Through Environmental Management Systems, the EPA will continue to emphasize 

watershed stewardship, watershed-based approaches, water efficiencies, and best 

practices. The EPA will focus specifically on green infrastructure, nutrients, and trading 

among point sources and nonpoint sources for water quality improvements and urban 

waters. In FY 2013, the Agency will advance the water quality monitoring initiative under 

the Clean Water Act, and develop important rules and implementation activities under 

38
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

the Safe Drinking Water Act. Related efforts to improve monitoring and surveillance will 

help advance water security nationwide. 

Drinking Water 

To help achieve the Administrator’s priority to protect America’s waters, in FY 2013, the 

EPA will continue to implement its Drinking Water Strategy, an approach to expand 

public health protection for drinking water. The vision of the strategy is to streamline 

decision-making and expand protection under existing laws and promote cost-effective 

new technologies to meet the needs of rural, urban and other water-stressed 

communities. The Agency will focus on regulating groups of drinking water 

contaminants, improving water treatment technology and expanding communication 

with states, tribes and communities. 

In FY 2013, a funding level of $120.8 million in categorical grants for drinking water 

programs will enable the EPA, the states, and community water systems to build on 

past successes while working toward the FY 2013 goal of assuring that 92 percent of 

the population served by community water systems receive drinking water that meets all 

applicable health-based standards. The Agency met its safe drinking water goals from 

FY 2008 through FY 2011. In FY 2011, 93.2 percent of the population was served by 

community water systems that met applicable health-based standards, surpassing the 

FY 2011 target of 91 percent. States carry out a variety of activities, including on-site 

sanitary surveys of water systems and assistance to small systems to improve their 

capabilities. The EPA will support state and local implementation of drinking water 

standards by providing guidance, training, and technical assistance and ensuring proper 

certification of water system operators. The EPA also will maintain the rate of system 

sanitary surveys and onsite reviews to promote compliance with drinking water 

standards. 

To help ensure that water is safe to drink and to address the nation’s aging drinking 

water infrastructure that can impact water quality, $850 million for the Drinking Water 

State Revolving Fund will support new infrastructure improvement projects for public 

drinking water systems in FY 2013 and beyond. In FY 2011, the fund utilization rate2 for 

the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund was 90 percent, surpassing the target of 89 

percent. In concert with the states, the EPA will focus this affordable, flexible financial 

assistance to support utility compliance with safe drinking water standards. The EPA 

also will work with utilities to promote technical, financial, and managerial capacity as a 

critical means to meet infrastructure needs and to enhance program performance and 

efficiency. 

 

2 Utilization rate is the cumulative dollar amount of loan agreements divided by cumulative funds available for 

projects. Cumulative funds available include the federal capitalization grant portion and everything that is in the 

SRF (state match, interest payments, etc). 

39
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

Clean Water 

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to collaborate with states and tribes to make progress 

toward the EPA’s clean water goals. Programs for controlling nonpoint sources of 

pollution are key to reducing the number of impaired waters. The programs provide a 

multi-faceted approach to the problem, with a mix of innovative development strategies 

to help leverage traditional tools. Maximizing the partnership with USDA and more fully 

utilizing the revolving fund capitalization grants provided to our partners will enable the 

EPA to build, revive, and “green” our aging infrastructure. In FY 2013, a funding level of 

$445.2 million in categorical grants for clean water programs will enable the EPA, states 

and tribes to implement core clean water programs and promising innovations on a 

watershed basis to accelerate water quality improvements. 

In FY 2013, the EPA and the USDA will work together to effectively target both the 

Natural Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) conservation assistance programs 

and EPA’s Section 319 grant funds to critical watersheds to improve water quality. The 

EPA and NRCS will collaborate with stakeholders to identify watersheds for focusing 

conservation and monitoring projects. Priority will be placed on partnering in watersheds 

that have high nonpoint source nutrient sediments loadings, including those listed by 

states as having impaired waters for nutrients, and the opportunity to make significant 

progress on reducing those loads. Further, the EPA will provide $15.0 million of Section 

106 funds to support states, interstate agencies and tribes that commit to strengthening 

their nutrient management efforts consistent with EPA Office of Water guidance issued 

in March 2011. 

Building on 30 years of clean water successes, the EPA, in conjunction with states and 

tribes, will address the requirements of the Clean Water Act by focusing on two primary 

tools: Total Maximum Daily Loads and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 

(NPDES) permits that are built upon scientifically sound water quality standards and 

technology-based pollutant discharge limits. For the past six years, the EPA has 

consistently surpassed its targets for establishing or approving TMDLs. There is much 

remaining to do, an additional estimated 49,000 TMDL are needed. In FY 2011, the 

Agency completed 2,846 TMDLs bringing the cumulative total to 49,663 TMDLs. The 

EPA also surpassed its target of issuing high priority EPA and state NPDES permits 

(including tribal) by 32 percent. 

The EPA will continue to provide annual capitalization to the Clean Water State 

Revolving Fund to enable EPA partners to improve wastewater treatment, nonpoint 

sources of pollution, and estuary revitalization. Realizing the expected long-term 

benefits, the EPA is continuing our Clean Water State Revolving Fund commitment by 

requesting $1.175 billion in FY 2013. The fund utilization rate for the Clean Water State 

Revolving Fund in FY 2011 was 98 percent, surpassing the target of 94.5 percent. 

40
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to strengthen the nationwide monitoring network and 

complete statistically-valid surveys of the nation’s waters. In FY 2011, the EPA used 

valid surveys of a statistically representative sample of U.S. waters to assess the 

nation’s water quality. The results of these efforts are scientifically-defensible water 

quality data and information essential for cleaning up and protecting the nation’s waters. 

Work will continue on the National Wetland Condition Assessment report, which will be 

issued in FY 2014, providing regional and national estimates of wetland ecological 

integrity and ranking the stressors most commonly associated with poor conditions. 

The Agency will continue in FY 2013 to assist communities, particularly underserved 

communities, in their local efforts to restore and protect the quality of their urban waters. 

By integrating water quality improvement activities and partnering with federal, state, 

local, and non-governmental organizations, the EPA will help to sustain local 

commitment over the longer time frame that is required for water quality improvement in 

urban watersheds. In support of the President’s America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) 

initiative, the EPA will provide grants and technical assistance to support community 

urban water stewardship and local restoration efforts. As part of the Urban Waters 

Federal Partnership, the EPA also will coordinate with member agencies to deliver 

technical assistance to pilot communities. Focus areas may include: promoting green 

infrastructure to reduce contaminated stormwater runoff; promoting volunteer 

monitoring; and tailoring risk communication and outreach to communities. The Urban 

Waters grant program will provide $4.4 million to fund innovative approaches for water 

quality improvement enhancements in urban areas that will help communities revitalize 

their waterfronts and accelerate measurable water quality improvements. 

41
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

As part of the Agency’s core missions under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking 

Water Act, the EPA will continue to address climate change impacts to water resource 

programs and to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions resulting from water activities. 

Climate change will exacerbate water quality stressors such as stormwater and nutrient 

pollution, will overload treatment systems, and could add new stressors such as those 

related to expanding renewable energy development. WaterSense, Climate Ready 

Estuaries, Climate Ready Water Utilities and Green Infrastructure are examples of 

programs that will help stakeholders adapt to climate change in FY 2013, and programs 

targeted at vulnerable populations will be increasingly important. Efforts to incorporate 

climate change considerations into key programs will help protect water quality and the 

nation’s investment in drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure. 

In FY 2013, the EPA, in cooperation with federal, state and tribal governments and 

other stakeholders, will make progress toward achieving the national goal of no net loss 

of wetlands under the Clean Water Act Section 404 regulatory program. In FY 2011, the 

EPA and its partners met this national goal. In addition, since 2002, over 1,000,000 

acres of habitat have been protected or restored within National Estuary Program study 

areas. The Agency’s FY 2013 budget request of $27.3 million for National Estuaries 

Programs and Coastal Waterways will enable the protection or restoration of an 

additional 100,000 acres within these areas. 

Geographic Water Programs 

The Administration has launched numerous cross-agency efforts to promote 

collaboration and coordination among agencies, which include a suite of large aquatic 

ecosystem restoration efforts. Three prominent examples for the EPA of cross-agency 

restoration efforts are the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico. 

Working with its partners and stakeholders, the EPA has established special programs 

to protect and restore each of these unique natural resources. 

The EPA’s ecosystem protection programs encompass a wide range of approaches that 

address specific at-risk regional areas and larger categories of threatened systems, 

such as urban waters, estuaries, and wetlands. Locally generated pollution, combined 

with pollution carried by rivers and streams and through air deposition, can accumulate 

in these ecosystems and degrade them over time. The EPA and its federal partners 

along with states, tribes, municipalities, and private parties, will continue efforts to 

restore the integrity of imperiled waters of the United States. 

Great Lakes:

In FY 2013, $300 million in funding for the EPA-led Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 

will address priority environmental issues (e.g., toxic substances, nonpoint source 

pollution, habitat degradation and loss, and invasive species) in the largest freshwater 

system in the world. This carefully coordinated interagency effort involves the White 

House Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. 

Department of Commerce, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of 

Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of 

42
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

State, Department of Defense, Department of Interior, and Department of 

Transportation. 

The EPA expects to continue to achieve substantial results through both federal 

projects and projects done in conjunction with states, tribes, municipalities, universities, 

and other organizations. Progress will continue in each of the Great Lakes Restoration 

Initiative’s five focus areas (see below) through implementation of both on-the-ground 

and in-the-water actions. The EPA will place a priority on restoring beneficial uses in 

Areas of Concern, delisting Areas of Concern, and reducing phosphorus pollution in 

targeted watersheds. 

Five Focus Areas:

 Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern 

 Invasive Species 

 Nearshore Health and Nonpoint Source 

 Habitat and Wildlife Protection and Restoration 

 Accountability, Education, Monitoring, Evaluation, Communication, and Partnerships 

Chesapeake Bay:

The Chesapeake Bay Program’s FY 2013 budget request of $72.6 million, an increase 

of approximately $15.3 million, will allow the EPA-led inter-agency Federal Leadership 

Committee to continue to implement the President’s Executive Order on Chesapeake 

Bay Protection and Restoration. The key initiatives include: implementing the TMDL; 

assisting states in implementing their Phase II watershed implementation plans, 

maintaining oversight of state permitting and compliance actions for the various sectors; 

expanding and improving a publicly accessible TMDL tracking and accountability 

system; deploying technology to integrate discrete Bay data systems and to present the 

data in an accessible accountability system called ChesapeakeStat; implementing a 

Bay-specific enforcement and compliance initiative; and moving forward on the Bay’s 

challenges related to toxic contaminants. In FY 2013, over 75 percent of the requested 

new funding would be used to increase state implementation and accountability grants 

worth a total of $32.1 million. These grants are key tools for Bay watershed states in 

implementing their Watershed Implementation Plans, and the EPA is working to ensure 

that the states provide support to local governments as they take the on-the-ground 

actions necessary to achieve the goals of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL 

 

Along with its federal and state partners, the EPA will establish two-year milestones for 

all actions needed to restore water quality, habitats, land, fish, and shellfish. Achieving 

allocations under the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Loads, the nation’s largest 

and most complex TMDL, requires significant scientific, technical, and programmatic 

support to states and local jurisdictions to develop and implement the most appropriate 

programs for meeting their responsibilities. The EPA will provide regulatory, legal, 

enforcement, and technical support necessary to meet these challenges. In FY 2011, 

the EPA met or exceeded its goals for implementing nitrogen, phosphorus, and 

sediment reduction actions to achieve final TMDL allocations. 

43
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force:

After the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, President Obama signed Executive Order 

13554 that established the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, chaired by 

Administrator Jackson of the EPA. In FY 2013, the Task Force will continue to serve as 

the federal lead in Gulf Coast restoration, building off of the tremendous early efforts of 

the Working Group, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, and others, while working to assist the 

Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Trustee Council. The Trustee Council 

focuses on restoring, rehabilitating, or replacing the natural resources damaged by the 

oil spill, while the Task Force and its federal agency partners focus their individual 

efforts on the broader suite of impacts afflicting the Gulf Coast region. The Gulf of 

Mexico program’s FY 2013 budget request of $4.4 million will allow the EPA to continue 

its support for Gulf restoration work, such as habitat conservation and replenishment 

and protection of coastal and marine resources. In FY 2011, the EPA exceeded its 

targets for 1) restoring water and habitat quality to meet water quality standards in 

impaired segments in 13 priority coastal areas, and 2) restoring, enhancing or protecting 

over 30,000 cumulative acres of important coastal and marine habitats. 

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force has developed a Gulf of Mexico 

Regional Ecosystem Restoration Strategy that identifies major policy areas where 

coordinated federal-state action is necessary and also considers existing restoration 

planning efforts in the region to identify planning gaps and restoration needs. This 

strategy will inform federal investments in ecosystem restoration in the Gulf region over 

the next decade. The Administration also supports dedicating a significant portion of the 

eventual Clean Water Act civil penalties resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill 

for Gulf recovery, in addition to current funding for Gulf programs. 

Homeland Security 

In FY 2013, in its role in protecting the nation’s critical water infrastructure from terrorist 

and other threats, the EPA and its stakeholder group will evaluate data from the final 

Water Security Initiative pilots in four major metropolitan areas on effectiveness, 

sustainability (including costs and benefits), and implementation ability. The EPA also 

will develop tools to enable national adoption of contamination warning systems by the 

water sector. 

Research 

Environmental challenges in the 21st century are more complex than before. Causes of 

environmental and health risks, such as climate change, urbanization, nonpoint source 

water pollution, and increased water demand, have become universal and require 

different thinking and solutions than in the past. Reducing risk can no longer be the only 

approach to environmental protection. Industry and government are looking toward 

solutions that enhance economic growth, social well-being, public health, and 

environmental quality. 

44
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

Increased demands, land use practices, population growth, aging infrastructure, and 

climate change and variability, pose significant threats to our nation's water resources. 

(See Figure 1)

Figure 1: Conceptual model for watersheds, where socioeconomic forces influence the 

ecosystem; human activities place stress on the ecosystem; the state is the condition of 

the ecosystem; the impact relates to benefits that ecosystems provide, and their value to 

human well-being; and responses are the environmental management actions and 

decisions by society. 

Such competing interests require the development of innovative new solutions for water 

resource managers and other decision-makers. To address these challenges, the EPA’s 

Safe and Sustainable Water Resources (SSWR) research program provides the 

information and tools that the EPA needs to meet its legal, statutory, and policy 

challenges. Research will integrate social, economic, and environmental sciences to 

support the nation’s range of growing water-use and ecological requirements. 

SSWR is conducting research that will enable decision-makers to identify what is 

needed to protect water resources, including information about complex tradeoffs, water 

contaminants and nutrient management on watershed, regional, and national scales. 

This research is informing the EPA’s first National Wetlands Condition Report. 

Researchers are also developing tools to better detect and assess waterborne 

chemicals and microbial contaminants. In FY 2013, the SSWR program will report on 

the presence of Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in drinking water, a compound of 

concern because of its carcinogenic potential. In addition, in support of the Agency’s 

Recommended Elements of a State Nutrients Framework, the EPA will conduct 

research to improve, demonstrate and apply numeric nutrient criteria approaches 

across different scales and waterbody types. 

Research also addresses and adapts to future water resources management needs to 

ensure that natural and engineered water systems have the capacity and resiliency to 

45
Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters

meet current and future water needs. The SSWR program will continue developing, 

implementing, and providing guidance on green infrastructure projects as a costeffective approach to stormwater management. Additionally, the SSWR research 

program will continue to ensure the safety of America’s water resources through new 

approaches to monitor and mitigate aging distribution and collection systems. 

The SSWR research program also will continue research to address potential water 

supply endangerment associated with subsurface land use practices including energy 

and mineral extraction. Research conducted includes studying the impacts of hydraulic 

fracturing on the Nation’s water resources. The EPA seeks to investigate the public and 

environmental health questions while maximizing the benefits of hydraulic fracturing 

practices. The EPA will continue conducting research to determine whether hydraulic 

fracturing has adverse effects on drinking water resources. In addition, the EPA will 

begin studying the impacts of hydraulic fracturing on air, water quality, and ecosystems. 

This research will complement the EPA’s current study on potential impacts of hydraulic 

fracturing on drinking water, and will expand upon and compliment ongoing coordination 

with DOE and USGS under a developing MOU. 

46
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development 

Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing 

Sustainable Development 

Strategic Goal: Clean up communities, advance sustainable development, and 

protect disproportionately impacted low-income, minority, and tribal communities. 

Prevent releases of harmful substances and clean up and restore contaminated areas. 

 

Resource Summary 

(Dollars in Thousands)

FY 2011 

Enacted

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013 

President’s 

Budget 

Difference

FY 2012 EN 

to FY 2013 

PresBud

1 - Promote Sustainable and Livable 

 Communities $500,571 $483,770 $478,700 ($5,070)

2 - Preserve Land $268,881 $254,818 $242,951 ($11,868)

3 - Restore Land $1,167,578 $1,104,154 $1,097,100 ($7,054)

4 - Strengthen Human Health and 

 Environmental Protection in Indian 

 Country $87,385 $88,311 $119,248 $30,937

 Goal 3 Total $2,024,415 $1,931,053 $1,937,999 $6,945

Workyears 4,464 4,289 4,342 53

NOTE: Numbers may not add due to rounding. 

Introduction

The EPA strives to protect and restore land, one of America’s most valuable resources, 

by cleaning up communities to create a safer environment for all Americans. Hazardous 

and non-hazardous wastes on land can migrate to the air, groundwater and surface 

water, contaminating drinking water supplies, causing acute illnesses and chronic 

diseases, and threatening healthy ecosystems. The EPA will continue efforts to prevent 

and reduce the risks posed by releases of harmful substances to land, clean up 

communities, strengthen state and tribal partnerships, expand the conversation on 

environmentalism, and work for environmental justice. The Agency also will advance 

sustainable development and maximize efforts to protect disproportionately impacted 

low-income, minority, and tribal communities through outreach and protection efforts for 

communities historically underrepresented in the EPA’s decision-making. 

 

23.1% of Budget

47
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to work collaboratively with state and tribal partners to 

prevent and reduce exposure to contaminants. Improved compliance at high-risk oil and 

chemical facilities through inspections will help prevent exposure and lower the risk of 

accidents. The EPA and its key state, tribal, and local partners, including affected 

communities, have matured in our collaborative approaches to identifying and cleaning 

up contaminated sites and putting these sites back into productive use for communities. 

To address exposures to releases that have already occurred and/or will occur in the 

future, the EPA will continue the multi-year Integrated Cleanup Initiative (ICI) program 

for the fourth year. The Initiative will identify and implement opportunities to integrate 

and leverage the full range of the Agency’s land cleanup authorities to accelerate the 

pace of cleanups, address a greater number of contaminated sites, and put these sites 

back into productive use while protecting human health and the environment. 

As a result of the ICI effort, the Agency will implement improvements to its land cleanup 

programs (e.g., Superfund, Brownfields, RCRA Corrective Action, and Leaking 

Underground Storage Tanks) to address the cleanup needs at individual sites. These 

efforts will be supported by sound scientific data, research, and cost-effective tools that 

alert the EPA to emerging issues and inform Agency decisions on managing materials 

and addressing contaminated properties. The EPA also will continue to implement its 

Community Engagement Initiative. The goals of this initiative are to ensure transparent 

and accessible decision-making processes, deliver information that communities can 

use to participate meaningfully, and help the EPA produce outcomes that are 

responsive to community perspectives and that ensure timely cleanup decisions. 

Improving a community’s ability to make decisions that affect its environment is at the 

heart of the EPA’s community-centered work. Challenging and complex environmental 

problems such as contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater that can cause human 

health concerns, persist at many contaminated properties. The burden of a single 

blighted and contaminated site, or multiple blighted and contaminated sites 

concentrated within an area, can result in long-term environmental and economic 

distress to a community. As multiple sites often are connected through infrastructure 

and geographic location, approaching the assessment and cleanup needs of the entire 

area can be more effective than focusing on individual sites. During FY 2013, the 

Brownfields program will continue to support the Agency’s ongoing brownfields areawide planning efforts. The cooperative agreements awarded and technical assistance 

provided for brownfields area-wide planning helps communities identify viable reuses of 

brownfields properties, as well as the full range of associated infrastructure investments 

and environmental improvements, which will help site cleanup and area revitalization. 

This approach maximizes the benefits that clean up and restoration can bring to a 

community. 

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue its work to cleanup, redevelop, and revitalize 

contaminated sites. Many communities across the country regularly face risks posed by 

intentional and accidental releases of hazardous substances into the environment. The 

EPA and its state partners issue, update, or maintain RCRA permits for 2,466 

hazardous waste facilities. In FY 2011, the EPA approved new or updated controls for 

100 hazardous waste facilities. In addition, there are 1,652 sites on the Superfund 

48
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development 

National Priorities List (NPL), only 347 of which have been deleted. Sites are placed on 

the NPL when the presence of contamination, often from complex chemical mixtures of 

hazardous substances, has impacted groundwater, surface water, and/or soil. The 

precise impact of many contaminant mixtures on human health remains uncertain; 

however, substances commonly found at Superfund sites have been linked to a variety 

of human health problems, such as birth defects, infertility, cancer, and changes in 

neurobehavioral functions. Through FY 2011, the EPA had controlled human exposures 

to contamination at 1,348 NPL sites. 

In FY 2013, the EPA is directing $5.7 million to compliance monitoring and on-site 

inspections at Risk Management Plan (RMP) and oil facilities. There is a critical need 

for the Agency to continue efforts to prevent and respond to accidental releases of 

harmful substances, including oil spills, by developing clear authorities, training 

personnel, and providing proper equipment. Recent spills and releases at oil and 

chemical facilities resulted in human injuries and deaths, severe environmental damage, 

and great financial loss. For example, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster resulted 

in 11 deaths, over 200 million gallons of spilled oil, and severe economic and 

environmental damage throughout the Gulf. Likewise, accidents reported to the EPA 

since 2005 by the current universe of RMP facilities have resulted in approximately 60 

deaths, over 1,300 injuries, nearly 200,000 people sheltered in place, and more than 

$1.6 billion in on-site and off-site damages. 

Major FY 2013 Changes

The EPA has carefully evaluated all program activities associated with cleaning up 

communities and taking care of one of America’s most valuable resources, land. The FY 

2013 request reflects the EPA’s continuous analysis of program priorities and needs in 

light of fiscal constraints which informed the decisions to reduce or eliminate programs 

and redirect resources to higher priorities. This budget reflects difficult choices such as 

a reduction to the Superfund cleanup programs of $40.7 million and the elimination of 

the Environmental Education program and the Superfund: Support for Other Federal 

Agencies program (which transfers funds to other agencies automatically). The EPA 

has targeted resources to areas of critical need including Tribal General Assistance 

(GAP) and Oil Spill Prevention. 

The FY 2013 request strongly supports tribal programs. As the largest single source of 

the EPA’s funding to tribes, the Tribal General Assistance Program (GAP) provides 

grants to build capacity to administer environmental programs that may be authorized 

by the EPA in Indian Country. The capacity to develop environmental education and 

outreach programs, develop and implement integrated solid waste management plans, 

and to identify serious conditions that pose immediate public health and ecological 

threats, is important for the health of the tribal communities. These grants provide 

technical assistance for developing programs to address environmental issues on 

Indian lands. In FY 2013, $96.4 million, a $28.7 million increase over FY 2012, for GAP 

grants will help build tribal capacity and assist tribes in leveraging other EPA and federal 

funding to contribute towards a higher overall level of environmental and human health 

protection for this underserved population. 

49
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development

The discharge of oil into U.S. waters can threaten human health, cause severe 

environmental damage, and induce great financial loss to businesses, all levels of 

government and the public. The EPA’s Oil Spill program protects U.S. waters and the 

communities that depend on them by preventing, preparing for, and responding to oil 

spills. In FY 2013, $19.3 million, an increase of $4.6 million, is requested for the Oil 

Spill: Prevention, Preparation and Response program. Additional resources will allow 

the Agency to better protect local communities by supporting increased inspections of 

high-risk Facility Response Plan (FRP) facilities, establishing a national oil database, 

helping facilities with compliance issues, better equipping inspectors for more efficient 

inspection processes, and informing program management and measurement activities. 

There are approximately 4,500 FRP facilities. In FY 2013, the EPA’s goal is to bring into 

compliance 40 percent of those facilities found to be non-compliant during the FY 2010 

through FY 2012 inspection cycle. 

In FY 2013, the EPA will redirect $2.0 million for planning and implementing a Regional 

Center of Expertise for Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA) Laboratories to consolidate 

functions and gain cost and human capital efficiencies. Maintaining this national 

capability is essential to support emergency responses and NPL site cleanup decisions. 

The Agency will conduct an analysis to determine how to maintain this CWA capability 

most effectively at Regional laboratories. This analysis would include potential 

consolidation of the facilities and equipment that requires support, while maintaining the 

strategic vision for the wider federal effort developed by the Department of Homeland 

Security. Other priority considerations include maintaining national expertise in this 

area, processes to mobilize this expertise, and policy for dual use of the capability to 

promote more efficient operations and other factors. 

In FY 2013, the Agency is reducing the Superfund Remedial program by $33.2 million. 

To withstand this reduction, the Agency will give priority to completing projects at 

various stages in the response process. The EPA will not plan to start new project 

phases, including new remedial construction starts. Instead, the Agency will focus on 

completing ongoing project phases, such as investigation, remedy design, and remedy 

construction. This approach will create a backlog of new construction projects estimated 

to range between 25 and 35 by the end of FY 2013. The EPA will not reduce its 

statutorily mandated actions to operate ground water remedies, or to monitor and 

assess the protectiveness of the constructed remedies. The program will continue to 

place emphasis on promoting site reuse in affected communities, but this shift may 

impact the EPA’s longer-term commitment to complete 93,400 Superfund remedial site 

assessments by 2015. Through FY 2011, 89,916 sites had been assessed. The pace of 

ongoing construction projects will be slowed, extending the timeline to achieve site 

cleanup and the return of sites to productive use. In order to protect the public from 

imminent threats to human health and the environment, the EPA is maintaining funding 

levels for the Superfund Emergency Response and Removal program. The program 

that provides automatic transfer funding to other federal agencies (Superfund: Support 

to Other Federal Agencies) is being eliminated as outdated. Funding for Superfund 

support by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, 

50
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development 

and Department of the Interior will be provided on an as-needed basis through interagency agreements. 

The EPA conducts environmental education activities and outreach through its national 

program offices (e.g., the Office of Water, etc.), as well as through its Environmental 

Education program. The Agency proposes to eliminate its Environmental Education 

program, a reduction of nearly $10 million, in order to focus its limited resources on 

further integrating environmental education activities into existing environmental 

programs. In FY 2012, the EPA established the Intra-Agency Environmental Education 

Workgroup to incorporate environmental literacy and stewardship activities across all 

EPA programs. By aligning environmental education and outreach activities with the 

appropriate national programs, the EPA is improving the accountability and outcomes of 

these activities. Elimination of the Environmental Education program will allow the EPA 

to better leverage its resources for environmental outreach activities which will be 

carried out under a streamlined and coordinated approach, thus better serving the 

public while promoting environmental literacy. The Agency also will enhance efforts to 

develop additional public-private partnership to help support environmental education 

stakeholders. 

Priority Goal

The EPA has established an FY 2012-2013 Priority Goal to highlight progress made 

through cleaning up contaminated sites. The Priority Goal is: 

 Clean up contaminated sites and make them ready for use. By September 30, 2013, 

an additional 22,100 sites will be ready for anticipated use. 

Additional information on the Agency's Priority Goals can be found at 

www.performance.gov. 

FY 2013 Activities

Work under Goal 3 supports four objectives: 1) Promote Sustainable and Livable 

Communities, 2) Preserve Land; 3) Restore Land; and 4) Strengthen Human Health and 

Environmental Protection in Indian Country. All of these efforts are guided by science 

and research. 

Promote Sustainable and Livable Communities 

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to use several approaches to promote sustainable, 

healthier communities and protect vulnerable populations and disproportionately 

impacted low-income, minority, and tribal communities. The Agency especially is 

concerned about threats to sensitive populations, such as children, the elderly, and 

individuals with chronic diseases. 

51
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development

Brownfields: 

The EPA’s Brownfields program is funded at $167 million. This program supports 

states, local communities, and tribes in their efforts to assess and clean up potentially 

contaminated and lightly contaminated sites within their jurisdiction. In FY 2013, this 

support includes participation in the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, 

particularly for brownfields area-wide planning projects and support for sustainable 

redevelopment approaches to brownfields. The EPA will continue to provide technical 

assistance for brownfields redevelopment in cities in transition (areas struggling with 

high unemployment as a result of structural changes to their economies). In addition, 

the Brownfields program, in collaboration with the EPA’s Sustainable Communities 

program, will address critical issues for brownfields redevelopment, including land 

assembly, development permitting issues, financing, accountability to uniform systems 

of information for land use controls, and other factors that influence the economic 

viability of brownfields redevelopment. The best practices, tools, and lessons learned 

from the Sustainable Communities program will directly inform and assist the EPA’s 

efforts to increase area-wide planning for assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of 

brownfields sites. In FY 2013, the Brownfields program will continue to foster federal, 

state, local, and public-private partnerships to return properties to productive economic 

use in communities. 

The EPA supports a modification to the current statutory language which calls for a firm 

25-percent set-aside for petroleum brownfields properties. The new language will 

provide for “no more than 25 percent” of Brownfields funds directed to petroleum sites. 

This change will allow brownfield funding to be directed to projects selected based on 

potential risk and benefits. Petroleum sites will remain eligible for funding. 

Smart Growth: 

The Agency’s Smart Growth and Sustainable Design program works across the EPA 

and with other federal agencies to help communities strengthen their economies, 

protecting the environment and preserving their heritage. This program focuses on 

streamlining, concentrating, and leveraging state and federal assistance in places with 

the greatest need in order to create an inviting atmosphere for economic development 

upon which urban, suburban, and rural communities can capitalize. In FY 2013, the 

EPA will develop new mechanisms to address the growing demand from communities 

for more direct technical assistance, including in rural areas, in areas that are 

disadvantaged, or in areas that have been adversely affected by contamination and 

environmental degradation. 

The Agency also will continue its support for the U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Housing and Urban Development, and the EPA’s Partnership for Sustainable 

Communities by coordinating planning efforts associated with housing, transportation, 

air quality, and protection of water resources. The EPA will continue to provide technical 

assistance to tribal, state, regional, and local governments as they seek to grow their 

economies and create jobs while reducing polluting emissions, controlling storm-water 

runoff, incorporating sustainable design practices, and promoting equitable 

development. 

 

52
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development 

Environmental Justice: 

The EPA is committed to environmental justice regardless of race, color, national origin, 

or income. Recognizing that minority and/or low-income communities frequently may be 

exposed disproportionately to environmental harm and risks, the Agency works to 

protect these communities and to ensure they are given the opportunity to participate 

meaningfully in environmental decisions, including clean-ups. In FY 2013, the EPA 

requests $7.8 million for the Environmental Justice (EJ) program to continue its efforts 

to incorporate environmental justice considerations into the rulemaking process, as well 

as maintain the successful ongoing grants program. Implementation of Plan EJ 2014 by 

Agency Programs and Regional Offices is a key component of this effort. An ongoing 

challenge for the EPA has been developing rules that implement existing statutory 

authority while working to reduce disproportionate exposure and impacts from multiple 

sources. In FY 2013, the EJ program will apply effective methods suitable for decisionmaking involving disproportionate environmental health impacts on minority, lowincome, and tribal populations. The EPA also is developing technical guidance to 

support the integration of EJ considerations in analyses that support the EPA’s actions. 

Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE):

The Agency places a high priority on expanding the conversation on environmentalism 

and working for environmental justice. Through the Community Action for a Renewed 

Environment (CARE) Program, the EPA will provide funding, tools, and technical 

support that enable underserved communities to create collaborative partnerships to 

address local environmental problems. The on-the-ground support and funding will help 

to reduce toxic pollution from all sources, revitalize underserved areas, and improve the 

health of communities across the nation in sustainable ways. In dealing with multimedia, multi-layered issues, communities want “One EPA” and “one government”. For 

each of the CARE communities, the EPA will work with the community to see their 

problems holistically, the way they see them. 

In FY 2013, the EPA is requesting new grant authority to implement this successful 

program beyond the demonstration phase. The CARE program is designed to assist 

distressed communities with addressing critical human health and environmental risks 

using a multi-media approach, with 90 percent of CARE projects in Environmental 

Justice communities of concern. With FY 2013 funding of $2.1 million, the EPA will 

address pollution problems in communities using collaborative processes to select and 

implement local actions. The EPA will award federal funding for projects to reduce 

exposure to toxic pollutants and local environmental problems, create and strengthen 

local partnerships and capacity, provide technical support and training, and conduct 

outreach to share lessons learned by CARE communities. In FY 2013, the Agency also 

will continue to support CARE through the Brownfields and Sustainable Communities 

Programs to enhance the building of local partnerships, to help underserved 

communities, and to leverage resources and sustain environmental health efforts over 

time. 

53
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development

U.S.-Mexico Border: 

The EPA is requesting $14.5 million for U.S.-Mexico Border programs in FY 2013, 

including $10 million for Infrastructure Assistance grants. The 2,000 mile border 

between the United States and Mexico is one of the most complex and dynamic regions 

in the world. The U.S.-Mexico Border region hosts a growing population of more than 

14.1 million people and accounts for three of the ten poorest counties in the U.S. In 

addition, 432,000 of the over 14 million people in the region live in 1,200 colonias,1

which are unincorporated communities characterized by substandard housing and 

unsafe drinking water. These demographics pose unique drinking water and wastewater 

infrastructure challenges as well as air pollution issues. Border 2020 has identified six 

long-term strategic goals to address the serious environmental and environmentallyrelated public health challenges including the impact of transboundary transport of 

pollutants in the border region. The six goals are: reduce conventional air pollutant and 

emissions; improve water quality and water infrastructure sustainability and reduce 

exposure to contaminated water; materials management and clean sites; improve 

environmental and public health through chemical safety; enhance joint preparedness 

for environmental response; and compliance assurance and environmental stewardship. 

Preserve and Restore Land 

In FY 2013, the Agency is requesting $1.3 billion to continue to apply the most effective 

approaches to preserve and restore land by developing and implementing prevention 

programs, improving response capabilities, and maximizing the effectiveness of 

response and cleanup actions under RCRA, Superfund, LUST and other authorities. 

This strategy will help ensure that human health and the environment are protected and 

that land is returned to beneficial use in the most effective way. 

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to use a hierarchy of approaches to protect the land: 

reducing waste at its source, recycling waste, managing waste effectively by preventing 

spills and releases of toxic materials, and cleaning up contaminated properties. The 

Agency is especially concerned about threats to sensitive populations, such as children, 

the elderly, and individuals with chronic diseases, and prioritizes cleanups accordingly.2

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 

(CERCLA, or Superfund) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 

provide legal authority for the EPA’s work to protect the land. The Agency and its 

partners use Superfund authority to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous 

waste sites, allowing land to be returned to productive use. Under RCRA, the EPA 

works in partnership with states and tribes to address risks associated with anyone who 

generates, recycles, transports, treats, stores, or disposes of waste. 

 

1 http://www.borderhealth.org/border_region.php 2

 Additional information on these programs can be found at: www.epa.gov/superfund, 

http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/er_cleanup.htm, http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/ca/, 

http://www.epa.gov/Brownfields/, http://www.epa.gov/swerust1/, http://www.epa.gov/swerffrr/ and 

http://www.epa.gov/swerrims/landrevitalization.
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development 

In FY 2013, the EPA will work to preserve and restore the nation’s land by ensuring 

proper management of waste and petroleum products, reducing waste generation, 

increasing recycling and by supporting its cleanup programs and oversight of oil and 

chemical facilities. These efforts are integrated with the Agency’s efforts to promote 

sustainable and livable communities. The EPA’s land program activities for FY 2013 

include seven broad efforts: 1) Integrated Cleanup Initiative; 2) Land Cleanup and 

Revitalization; 3) RCRA Waste Management and Corrective Action; 4) Recycling and 

Waste Minimization; 5) Underground Storage Tanks management; 6) Oil Spills and 

Chemical Safety, and 7) Homeland Security. 

Integrated Cleanup Initiative3

: 

In FY 2010, the EPA initiated a multi-year strategy called the Integrated Cleanup 

Initiative (ICI) to improve accountability, transparency, and effectiveness by better 

integrating and leveraging the Agency’s land cleanup authorities. The ICI establishes a 

framework of activities, milestone dates, and deliverables to enable the EPA to address 

a greater number of sites, accelerate the pace of cleanups, and put those sites back 

into productive use while protecting human health and the environment. One of the 

primary goals of ICI is to communicate progress, successes, and challenges in a 

transparent manner to stakeholders and the public. 

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to accelerate and otherwise improve comprehensive 

management of all aspects of the Agency’s cleanup programs while addressing the 

three critical points in the cleanup process—starting, advancing, and completing site 

cleanup. The Agency is exploring new project management efficiencies, broadening the 

use of optimization techniques, and improving the efficiency of the grants and 

contracting processes that are so important to our cleanup programs. 

Land Cleanup and Revitalization: 

In addition to promoting sustainable and livable communities, the EPA’s cleanup 

programs (e.g., Superfund Remedial, Superfund Federal Facilities Response, 

Superfund Emergency Response and Removal, RCRA Corrective Action, Brownfields, 

and Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) Cooperative Agreements) and their 

partners are taking proactive steps to facilitate the cleanup and revitalization of 

contaminated properties. To support the Land Revitalization Initiative, the EPA created 

the Land Revitalization Agenda4

 to integrate reuse into the EPA's cleanup programs, 

establish partnerships, and help make land revitalization part of the EPA's 

organizational culture. In FY 2013, the Agency will continue to help communities clean 

up and revitalize these once productive properties by removing contamination, helping 

limit urban sprawl, fostering ecologic habitat enhancements, enabling economic 

development, taking advantage of existing infrastructure, and maintaining or improving 

quality of life. In addition, the EPA will continue to support the RE-Powering America’s 

Land initiative5

 in partnership with the Department of Energy, and support ongoing work 

with the General Services Administration to expeditiously identify parcels of federally-

 

3 Additional information on this initiative may be found on http://www.epa.gov/oswer/integratedcleanup.htm. 4

 Additional information on this agenda can be found on http://www.epa.gov/landreuse/agenda_full.htm 5

 Additional information on this initiative can be found on http://www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland/. 

55
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development

owned property ready for reuse as part of cleanup. These projects encourage reuse and 

development on currently or formerly contaminated land. 

RCRA Waste Management and Corrective Action:

In partnership with the states, the Agency implements the Resource Conservation and 

Recovery Act (RCRA), which is critical to comprehensive and protective management of 

solid and hazardous materials from cradle to grave. In FY 2013, the EPA and the states 

will oversee and manage RCRA permits for 10,000 hazardous waste units at 2,466 

facilities. The EPA is responsible for the continued oversight and maintenance of the 

regulatory controls at facilities covered by RCRA and directly implements the entire 

RCRA program in Iowa and Alaska.6 The EPA provides leadership, worksharing, and 

support to the 50 states and territories authorized to implement the permitting program. 

The RCRA permitting program faces a significant workload to ensure controls remain 

protective. With declining state resources, the EPA is facing the potential of an 

increasing amount of direct implementation responsibility. 

The EPA’s Corrective Action program is responsible for overseeing and managing 

cleanups that protect human health and the environment at active RCRA sites. The 

EPA focuses its corrective action resources on the 3,747 operating hazardous waste 

facilities that are a subset of approximately 6,000 sites with corrective action obligations. 

These facilities include some of the most highly contaminated, technically challenging, 

and potentially threatening sites the EPA confronts in any of its cleanup programs.7

 In 

FY 2013, the EPA will focus resources on those sites that present the highest risk to 

human health and the environment and implement actions to end or reduce these 

threats. To this end, the Agency will focus on site investigations to identify threats, 

establish interim remedies to reduce and eliminate exposure; and select and construct 

safe, effective long-term remedies that maintain the viability of the operating facility. 

Recycling and Waste Minimization: 

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to advance the sustainable materials management 

(SMM) practices and a cradle-to-cradle perspective representing an important emphasis 

shift from waste management to materials management. This involves integrating 

information to foster a national focus, formulating and issuing policy, and addressing 

market challenges on raw material usage (non-fossil fuel or food). The EPA considers 

the human health and environmental impacts associated with the full lifecycle of 

materials—from the amount and toxicity of raw materials extraction, through 

transportation, processing, manufacturing, use and re-use, recycling, and disposal. The 

Agency’s approach to SMM integrates the safe reuse of materials with economic 

opportunity. The initial strategy areas include: 1) federal green challenge to reform 

government purchasing practices in an environmentally friendly manner; 2) sustainable 

food management to help capture and prevent food from being disposed in landfills; and 

 

6 http://www.epa.gov/wastes/hazard/tsd/permit/pgprarpt.htm 7

 There are additional facilities that have corrective action obligations that the EPA does not track under GPRA, as 

they are typically smaller, less significant facilities or sites. The EPA recognizes that the total universe of such 

facilities or sites "subject to" corrective action universe is between five and six thousand facilities or sites. 

56
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development 

3) safe handling of used electronics to increase the amount of used electronics 

managed by accredited third party electronics recyclers. 

The EPAct and Underground Storage Tanks: 

The EPAct8

 contains numerous provisions that significantly affect federal and state 

underground storage tank (UST) programs and requires that the EPA and states 

strengthen tank release and prevention programs. In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to 

provide grants to states to help them meet their EPAct responsibilities, which include: 1) 

mandatory inspections every three years for all underground storage tanks and 

enforcement of violations discovered during the inspections; 2) operator training; 3) 

prohibition of delivery for non-complying facilities9

; and 4) secondary containment or 

financial responsibility for tank manufacturers and installers. 

In FY 2013, the EPA will bolster communication and outreach to petroleum brownfields 

stakeholders; provide targeted technical assistance to state, tribal, and local 

governments; evaluate policies to facilitate increased petroleum brownfields site 

revitalization; and pursue corridor and smart growth projects to promote investment in 

and the sustainable reuse of petroleum brownfields. 

Oil Spills and Chemical Safety: 

The Oil Spill program helps protect U.S. waters by effectively preventing, preparing for, 

responding to, and monitoring oil spills. In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to focus 

efforts on oil spill prevention, preparedness, compliance assistance, and enforcement 

activities associated with the more than 600 thousand non-transportation-related oil 

storage facilities that the EPA regulates through its Spill Prevention Control and 

Countermeasure (SPCC) Program. The Agency requests redirected resources of $4.1 

million to increase the frequency of compliance inspections at high-risk oil facilities from 

the current 20 year frequency to a seven to ten year cycle, develop a third-party audit 

program, and develop a National Oil database. The EPA’s regulated universe includes 

approximately 4,500 FRP facilities and over 600,000 SPCC facilities. 

The RMP (Risk Management Program) provides the foundation for community and 

hazard response planning by requiring chemical facilities to take preventative 

measures, as well as collecting and sharing data to assist other stakeholders in 

preventing and responding to releases of all types. Taken together, the Risk 

Management Program and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 

(EPCRA) establish a structure within which federal, state, local, and Tribal partners can 

work together to protect the public, the economy, and the environment from chemical 

risks. For FY 2013, the EPA requests redirected resources of $1.6 million to conduct onsite inspections at approximately five percent of RMP facilities nationwide and at least 

30 percent of those inspections will be at high risk facilities. 

 

8 For more information, refer to http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgibin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ058.109.pdf (scroll to Title XV - Ethanol And Motor 

Fuels, Subtitle B – Underground Storage Tank Compliance, on pages 500-513 of the pdf file). 9

 Refer to Grant Guidelines to States for Implementing the Delivery Prohibition Provision of the Energy Policy Act 

of 2005, August 2006, EPA-510-R-06-003, http://www.epa.gov/oust/fedlaws/epact_05.htm#Final.

57
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development

In the Oil spill program, the goal in FY 2013 is that 40 percent of FRP facilities found to 

be non-compliant during FY 2010 through FY 2012 will be brought into compliance by 

the end of the fiscal year. In addition to its prevention responsibilities, the EPA serves 

as the lead responder for cleanup of all inland zone spills, including transportationrelated spills from pipelines, trucks, and other transportation systems, and provides 

technical assistance and support to the U.S. Coast Guard for coastal and maritime oil 

spills. 

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to review and revise, as appropriate, the National Oil 

and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan, including Subpart J that 

regulates the use of dispersants and other chemicals as a tool in oil spill response. In 

addition, the EPA is establishing a National Oil database to help streamline the process 

for assisting facilities with compliance, better equip inspectors for more efficient 

inspection processes, and inform program management and measurement activities. In 

FY 2013, the EPA will finalize development and begin implementation of this National 

Oil database including identifying requirements for electronic submission of FRPs in 

order to create reporting efficiencies for the agency, states, local government and 

industry. 

Homeland Security: 

The EPA’s Homeland Security work is an important component of the Agency’s 

prevention, protection, and response activities. The EPA will continue to provide 

Homeland Security emergency preparedness and response capability related to 

chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) agents and catastrophic incidents. In FY 

2013, the Agency requests $38.7 million to: maintain its capability to respond effectively 

to incidents that may involve harmful CBR substances; operate the Environmental 

Response Laboratory Network (ERLN); maximize the effectiveness of its involvement in 

national security events through pre-deployments of assets such as emergency 

response personnel and field detection equipment; maintain the Emergency 

Management Portal (EMP); and manage, collect, and validate new information for new 

and existing chemical, biological, and radiological agents as decontamination 

techniques are developed or as other information emerges from the scientific 

community. 

Improve Human Health and the Environment in Indian Country 

In FY 2013, the EPA will assist federally-recognized tribes in assessing environmental 

conditions in Indian country. The Agency is requesting $96.4 million for the Tribal GAP 

program, a $28.7 increase, in order to help tribes build their capacity to implement 

environmental programs. This additional funding will increase the average cost of grants 

made to eligible tribes and will fund limited targeted assistance initiatives focused on 

mutually agreed-upon concerns in Indian country. This will help to reduce staff turn-over 

rates and thereby enhance longer-term sustainability of the programs being developed. 

It will further the EPA’s partnership and collaboration with tribes to address a wider set 

of program responsibilities and challenges and will fund focused targeted assistance on 

58
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development 

long-standing and mutually agreed-upon concerns in Indian country. The EPA also will 

strengthen the scientific evidence and research supporting environmental policies and 

decisions on compliance, pollution prevention, and environmental stewardship in Indian 

country through continued collaboration with Agency program offices and through the 

EPA's Tribal Science Council. 

Since adopting the EPA Indian Policy in 1984, the EPA has worked with federallyrecognized tribes on a government-to-government basis, in recognition of the federal 

government's trust responsibility to federally-recognized tribes. Under federal 

environmental statutes, the Agency is responsible for protecting human health and the 

environment in Indian country. In FY 2013, the EPA’s Office of International and Tribal 

Affairs will continue to lead agency-wide program efforts to work with tribes, Alaska 

Native Villages, and inter-tribal consortia to fulfill this responsibility. The EPA’s strategy 

for achieving this objective has three major components: 

 Establish an Environmental Presence in Indian Country: The Agency will continue to 

provide funding through the Tribal General Assistance Program (GAP) so each 

federally-recognized tribe can establish an environmental presence. 

 Provide Access to Environmental Information: The EPA will provide the information 

tribes need to meet the EPA and tribal environmental priorities and characterize the 

environmental and public health improvements that result from joint actions. 

 Implementation of Environmental Goals: The Agency will provide opportunities for 

the implementation of tribal environmental programs by tribes through 1) mediaspecific programs, 2) tribes themselves, or 3) directly by the EPA, if necessary. 

Research 

The Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research Program (SHCRP) will continue 

research to support the EPA’s program offices, and our state and tribal partners in 

protecting and restoring land, and supporting community health. The work of the 

SHCRP falls into four inter-related themes: 

1. Data and Tools to Support Sustainable Community Decisions uses interactive 

social media and other innovative means to enable communities and 

stakeholders to actively engage in the planning, design, and implementation of 

SHC research to meet their desired sustainability goals;

2. Forecasting and Assessing Ecological and Community Health will enable 

communities to ensure the sustainable provision of ecosystem services and to 

assess how the natural and built environment affects the health and well-being of 

their residents;

3. Near-term Approaches for Sustainable Solutions builds upon the EPA’s program 

office experience to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of methods for 

59
Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development

addressing existing sources of land and groundwater contamination, while 

moving to innovative approaches that reduce new sources of contamination and 

enable recovery of energy, materials, and nutrients from waste; 

4. Integrated Solutions for Sustainable Outcomes assesses the state of the art of 

sustainable practices for four high-priority community decision areas: waste and 

materials management; infrastructure, including energy and water; 

transportation; and planning and zoning for buildings and land use. It will use 

whole-system modeling to integrate these four areas to better achieve outcomes 

with multiple benefits and to develop and test Taskforce on Research to Inform 

and Optimize (TRIO) accounting methods. 

In FY 2013, the SHCRP will address many facets of site contamination and cleanup. 

This includes source elimination of contaminated ground water and migration at 

Superfund sites and plume management to reduce exposures via drinking water and 

vapor intrusion. Research efforts are leading to screening, sampling, and modeling 

approaches to assess risks from vapor intrusion and to define the need for mitigation in 

homes, schools, and places of employment. This science will be used to develop 

guidance in site ranking and in remedial investigations. 

Research will characterize contaminated sediments, remediation options, and ways to 

enhance cleanup of contaminated sediments, leading to restored ecological functioning 

and lifting of fish consumption advisories in impaired waters. The EPA will use this 

research to improve the cost effectiveness of sediment remediation cleanups and 

achieve human health, environmental, and economic benefits of cleanup projects along 

lakes and rivers. This research provides site-specific and general technical support to 

the EPA as it evaluates options for remediation of Superfund sites. 

The EPA will continue to develop or revise protocols to test oil spill control agents or 

products for listing on the National Contingency Plan Product Schedule, including 

dispersants performance and behavior in deep water. In addition, working with the 

Agency’s Underground Storage Tanks program, SHCRP will deliver improved 

characterization and remediation methods for fuels released from leaking underground 

storage tanks. 

60
Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution 

Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing 

Pollution 

Strategic Goal: Reduce the risk and increase the safety of chemicals and prevent 

pollution at the source. 

 

Resource Summary 

(Dollars in Thousands)

FY 2011 

Enacted

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013 

President’s 

Budget 

Difference

FY 2012 EN 

to FY 2013 

PresBud

1 - Ensure Chemical Safety $613,228 $604,597 $639,244 $34,647

2 - Promote Pollution Prevention $58,649 $58,230 $60,017 $1,788

 Goal 4 Total $671,877 $662,826 $699,261 $36,435

Workyears 2,727 2,679 2,680 1

NOTE: Numbers may not add due to rounding. 

Introduction

Chemicals are ubiquitous in our everyday lives and products. They are used in the 

production of everything from our homes and cars to the cell phones we carry and the 

food we eat. Chemicals often are released into the environment as a result of their 

manufacture, processing, use, and disposal. Research shows that children are getting 

steady infusions of industrial chemicals before they are even given solid food.1,2,3 Other 

vulnerable groups, including low-income, minority, and indigenous populations, may be 

disproportionately impacted by chemical exposure and thus particularly at risk.4,5,6 

 

1

 The Disproportionate Impact of Environmental Health Threats on Children of Color 

(http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/8d49f7ad4bbcf4ef852573590040b7f6/79a3f13c301688828525770c0063

b277!OpenDocument) 2

 Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks 

3

 Guide to Considering Children's Health When Developing EPA Actions: Implementing Executive Order 13045 

and EPA's Policy on Evaluating Health Risks to Children 

(http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/ADPguide.htm/$File/EPA_ADP_Guide_508.pdf) 4

 Holistic Risk-based Environmental Decision Making: a Native Perspective 

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1241171) 5

 Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low 

Income Populations 

8.3% of Budget

61
Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution 

A requested increase of $36.4 million in FY 2013 will support a crucial stage of the 

EPA’s strengthened approach to address existing chemicals that have not been tested 

for adverse health or environmental effects. The FY 2013 request of $699 million will 

allow the EPA to sustain its success in managing the potential risks of new chemicals 

entering commerce and to significantly accelerate progress in assessing and ensuring 

the safety of existing chemicals. In FY 2013, the EPA will move forward in its transition 

from an approach dominated by voluntary chemical data submissions by industry, to a 

more proactive approach to ensure chemical safety. The approach focuses on: 1) using 

all available authorities under TSCA to take immediate and lasting action to eliminate or 

reduce identified chemical risks and develop proven safer alternatives; 2) using 

regulatory mechanisms to fill remaining gaps in critical exposure data, and increasing 

transparency and public access to information on TSCA chemicals; 3) using data from 

all available sources to conduct detailed chemical risk assessments on priority 

chemicals to inform the need for and support development and implementation of risk 

management actions; and 4) preventing introduction of unsafe new chemicals into 

commerce. 

In FY 2013, the EPA’s Pesticide Licensing program will continue to screen new 

pesticides before they reach the market and will continue to ensure that pesticides 

already in commerce are safe when used in accordance with the label. As directed by 

the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Federal Food, 

Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), the 

EPA will register pesticides to protect consumers, pesticide users, workers who may be 

exposed to pesticides, children, and other sensitive populations. The EPA also will 

review potential impacts on the environment, with particular attention to endangered 

species. 

The EPA has a long history of international collaboration on a wide range of global 

environmental issues. Research under this goal supports the EPA’s bilateral and 

multilateral partnerships which have taken on new significance in the face of shared 

environmental and governance challenges such as global climate change and 

improving children’s environmental health outcomes. 

The EPA envisions that environmental progress in cooperation with global partners can 

catalyze even greater progress toward protecting our domestic environment, including 

adapting to climate change, ensuring that trade-related activities sustain environmental 

protection, enhancing the ability of our trading partners to protect their environments 

and develop in a sustainable manner, and improving international cooperation and 

enhancing opportunities through effective consultation and collaboration related to 

issues of mutual interest. To advance all of these efforts, the EPA continues to focus on 

the following international priorities: building strong environmental institutions and legal 

structures; combating climate change by limiting pollutants; improving air quality; 

 6

 Interim Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of an Action 

(http://www.epa.gov/compliance/ej/resources/policy/considering-ej-in-rulemaking-guide-07-2010.pdf) 

62
Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution 

expanding access to clean water; reducing exposure to toxic chemicals; and cleaning 

up e-waste. 

Pollution prevention is central to the EPA’s sustainability strategies. In FY 2013, the 

EPA will enhance cross-cutting efforts to advance sustainable practices, safer 

chemicals and sustainable lower risk processes and practices, and safer products. The 

EPA will incorporate sustainability principles into our policies, regulations, and actions. 

The combined effect of community-level actions, geographically targeted efforts, 

attention to chemicals, and concern for ecosystems—implemented through the lens of 

science, transparency, and law—will bring real improvements and protections. To help 

ensure that communities have access to timely and meaningful data on toxic chemical 

releases, the EPA will update the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) to clarify certain 

reporting requirements, consider the regulatory addition of selected chemicals, and 

consider whether to regulate additional industry sectors under TRI. 

Achieving an environmentally sustainable future demands that the EPA address today’s 

environmental problems by using a science-based process while simultaneously 

preparing for long-term challenges. The EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) 

recognizes this and that solutions must tackle issues collectively, rather than 

individually, to be effective.7 This belief is a core philosophy of the EPA’s FY 2013 

research program and it will position the Agency to address the environmental 

challenges of the 21st Century. 

Major FY 2013 Changes

Recognizing the tight limits on discretionary spending across government, the EPA has 

evaluated its priorities and made necessary adjustments to focus FY 2013 resources on 

the most significant efforts that help protect health and the environment from chemical 

risks. The FY 2013 request reflects EPA's program priorities and needs in light of 

current program activity levels and fiscal constraints. The EPA requests an increase in 

FY 2013 of approximately $11 million over the FY 2012 enacted level for critical work in 

Enhancing Chemical Safety. This priority work targets increased support for initiating, 

continuing, and completing actions to reduce chemical risks; assessing chemical risks; 

and obtaining needed information on potentially hazardous chemicals while maximizing 

the availability of information to the public. In the research programs, an increase of 

approximately $4 million supports sustainable molecular design research. The EPA will 

use this program to generate the critical information needed by manufacturers to 

develop inherently safer processes and products that minimize or eliminate the 

associated adverse impacts on human health and the environment that could result 

from the manufacturing, use, and disposal of chemicals, including nanomaterials. 

Program priorities and needs in light of current program activity levels and fiscal 

constraints required difficult decisions resulting in requests for program reductions and 

eliminations. In FY 2013, the EPA will reduce by approximately $2 million all of the non-

 

7 http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/E989ECFC125966428525775B0047BE1A/$File/EPA-SAB-10-010-

unsigned.pdf

63
Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution 

enforcement activities of the PCB and fibers programs, acknowledging the program’s 

maturity, broad adoption, and well-documented and understood human health risks. In 

FY 2013, the EPA also will reduce the Endocrine Disruptor program by approximately 

$1 million as a result of progress being made to establish a full set of screening assays. 

The program will transition to more efficient methodologies for screening chemicals, 

such as computational toxicology (CompTox), as new technologies are validated, 

yielding benefits such as automated, rapid screening that will be used to generate data 

on the adverse effects of large numbers of chemicals. 

FY 2013 Activities

Chemicals Program 

Existing chemicals activities fall into three major components: 1) strengthening chemical 

information collection, management, and transparency ($13.9 million); 2) screening and 

assessing chemical risks ($14.9 million); and 3) reducing chemical risks ($24.6 million). 

In FY 2013, the toxics program will maintain its ‘zero tolerance’ goal in preventing the 

introduction of unsafe new chemicals into commerce. However, thousands of existing 

(‘pre-TSCA’) chemicals already in commerce remain un-assessed. 

In FY 2013, the increased resources requested will allow the EPA to complete detailed 

chemical risk assessments of priority chemicals that began in FY 2012 and to initiate 

five to ten additional assessments, several of which will be completed in FY 2013. The 

EPA also plans to develop hazard characterizations for 450 additional High Production 

Volume (HPV) chemicals using the data obtained through TSCA test rules, bringing the 

projected total by the end of FY 2013 to 2,433 of the 3,761 HPV chemicals identified 

prior to the 2011 TSCA Chemical Data Reporting rule. The major activity of the New 

Chemicals program is premanufacture notices (PMN) review and management, which 

address the potential risks from approximately 1,000 chemicals, products of 

biotechnology, and new chemical nanoscale materials received annually prior to their 

entry into the US marketplace. 

 

In FY 2013, the Agency will continue to implement the chemicals risk management 

program to further eliminate risks from high-risk “legacy” chemicals. As illustrated on the 

opposite page, the EPA will build on the successful national effort to reduce childhood 

blood lead incidences and continue ongoing implementation of the Lead Renovation, 

Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule though outreach efforts and targeted activities to 

support renovator certifications. In collaboration with states and local governments, the 

Agency will continue to address “hotspots” where there are remaining incidences of 

children with high blood lead levels. 

64
Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution 

Endocrine Disruptor Program 

In FY 2013, the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program will focus on: 1) finalizing the 

inter-laboratory validation of three Tier 2 assays; 2) prioritizing and selecting additional 

chemicals for Tier 1 screening; 3) continuing to issue Tier 1 Test Orders for selected 

chemicals evaluating results of Tier 1 screening data submitted for the first list of 

pesticide chemicals; 4) conducting weight of evidence evaluations to determine which 

pesticide chemicals have the potential to interact with endocrine systems (Tier 1), and if 

so whether they should be further tested for effects (Tier 2); and 5) continuing 

coordination and collaboration with the research and development program to 

determine the applicability of computational toxicology-based approaches to assess a 

chemical’s potential to interact with the estrogen, androgen, and thyroid systems. 

Pesticides Program 

Key components of chemical safety in protecting human health, communities, and 

ecosystems are identifying, assessing, and reducing the risks presented by the 

pesticides on which our society and economy depend. Chemical and biological 

pesticides help meet national and global demands for food. They provide effective pest 

control for homes, schools, gardens, highways, utility lines, hospitals, and drinking water 

treatment facilities and control animal vectors of disease. Many regulatory actions 

involve reduced risk pesticides that, once registered, will result in increased societal 

benefits. 

 

In FY 2013, $129.0 million is requested to support the EPA pesticide review processes 

for all pesticide applications. The EPA also will focus on improving pesticide 

registrations’ compliance with the Endangered Species Act and achieving broader 

Agency objectives for water quality protection. The EPA also will continue to emphasize 

65
Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution 

the protection of potentially sensitive groups, such as children, by reducing exposures 

from pesticides used in and around homes, schools, and other public areas. In addition, 

the Agency worker protection, certification, and training regulations will encourage safe 

application practices. Together, these programs will minimize exposure to pesticides, 

maintain a safe and affordable food supply, address public health issues, and minimize 

property damage that can occur from insects and pests. 

Pollution Prevention Program

In FY 2013, the requested funding of $20.9 million for the EPA’s Pollution Prevention 

(P2) Program will target technical assistance, information, and assessments to 

encourage the use of greener chemicals, technologies, processes, and products. The 

EPA will continue to support programs with proven records of success, including 

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP), Design for the Environment (DfE), Green 

Suppliers Network, Pollution Prevention Technical Assistance, Partnership for 

Sustainable Healthcare, Green Chemistry and Green Engineering. In addition, the 

EPA’s P2 Programs will support the Economy, Energy, and Environment (E3) 

Partnership among federal agencies, local governments, and manufacturers to promote 

energy efficiency, job creation, and environmental improvement. Work under these 

programs also supports the energy reduction goals under Executive Order 13514. 

Through these efforts, the EPA will continue to encourage government and business to 

adopt source reduction practices that can help prevent pollution and avoid potential 

adverse human health and environmental impacts. 

Research 

The EPA’s Chemical Safety and Sustainability, Human Health Risk Assessment, and 

Homeland Security Research Programs underpin the analysis of risks and potential 

health impacts across the broad spectrum of EPA programs and provide the scientific 

foundation for chemical safety and pollution prevention. In FY 2013, the EPA will further 

strengthen its planning and delivery of science by continuing an integrated research 

approach that tackles problems systematically instead of individually. 

The requested increase of $2.5 million to the Chemical Safety and Sustainability 

Research Program (CSSRP) will support the EPA’s efforts to develop enhanced 

chemical screening and testing techniques that improve context-relevant chemical 

assessment and management. New tools promise to transform the way the EPA 

evaluates risks of chemical products. The EPA will combine these new tools with 

existing test methods, integrating toxicity and exposure pathways in the context of the 

life cycle of the chemical. This approach will yield benefits such as automated, rapid 

screening that will be used to generate data on the adverse effects of large numbers of 

chemicals. Previous approaches were more narrowly targeted to single chemicals or 

problem areas. 

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue the multi-year transition away from the traditional 

assays used in Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) through efforts to 

66
Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution 

validate and use computational toxicology and high throughput screening methods. This 

will allow the Agency to more quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively assess potential 

chemical toxicity. For example, the average cost of testing 300 chemicals with 

computational toxicology is about $20,000 per chemical, compared to more traditional 

approaches that can cost more than $6 million per chemical. In FY 2013, the EPA will 

continue to evaluate endocrine-relevant ToxCast assays. 

The CSSRP also supports decision makers in individual localities and communities with 

research on their priority contaminants. This will support better air toxics and drinking 

water-related regional and local decision-making. Under the consolidated research 

program, the EPA also will continue to support the scientific foundation for addressing 

the risks of exposure to chemicals in wildlife. 

In FY 2013, the Agency’s Human Health Risk Assessment Research Program will 

continue to develop assessments including: 

 Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) health hazard and dose-response 

assessments, 

 Integrated Science Assessments (ISAs)of criteria air pollutants; 

 Community Risk and Technical Support, and 

 Methods, models, and approaches to modernize risk assessment for the 21st 

Century. 

The program will release draft Integrated Science Assessments for nitrogen oxides and 

carbon monoxide for Clean Air Science Advisory Committee review and public 

comment. The program will make significant progress on health hazard assessments of 

high priority chemicals (e.g., dioxin, methanol, cumulative phthalate assessment, benzoa-pyrene, Libby asbestos cancer assessment, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) noncancer assessment). 

The Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) will continue to enhance the 

nation’s preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities for homeland security 

incidents and other hazards. The HSRP will provide stakeholders with valuable 

detection and response analytics for incidents involving chemical, biological, or 

radiological agents. The program will emphasize research needed to support response 

and recovery from wide-area attacks involving radiological agents, nuclear agents, and 

biothreat agents such as anthrax. 

The EPA will allocate $164.4 million to the Chemical Safety and Sustainability, Human 

Health Risk Assessment, and Homeland Security Research Programs in FY 2013. 

67
68
Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws 

Strategic Goal: Protect human health and the environment through vigorous and 

targeted civil and criminal enforcement. Assure compliance with environmental laws. 

 

Resource Summary 

(Dollars in Thousands)

FY 2011 

Enacted

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013 

President’s 

Budget 

Difference

FY 2012 EN 

to FY 2013 

PresBud

1 - Enforce Environmental Laws $799,069 $784,884 $830,412 $45,528

 Goal 5 Total $799,069 $784,884 $830,412 $45,528

Workyears 3,992 3,933 3,885 (48)

NOTE: Numbers may not add due to rounding. 

Introduction

The EPA's civil and criminal enforcement programs perform the core function of 

assuring compliance with our nation's environmental laws. A strong and effective 

enforcement program is essential to maintain respect for the rule of law and a level 

economic playing field, and to realize the promise of federal statutes to protect the 

environment and the public health of citizens. 

On January 18, 2011, President Obama issued a “Presidential Memoranda – 

Regulatory Compliance”1

 which reaffirms the importance of effective enforcement and 

compliance in regulations. In part, it states “Sound regulatory enforcement promotes the 

welfare of Americans in many ways, by increasing public safety, improving working 

conditions, and protecting the air we breathe and the water we drink. Consistent 

regulatory enforcement also levels the playing field among regulated entities, ensuring 

that those that fail to comply with the law do not have an unfair advantage over their 

law-abiding competitors.” 

In FY 2013, the EPA seeks to maintain the strength of its core national Enforcement 

and Compliance Assurance program. Recognizing the limitations of the federal budget 

and the declining resources of the states, the Agency will continue to implement 

strategies that use resources more efficiently and find opportunities to focus and 

leverage efforts to assure compliance with environmental laws. 

 

1

 For more information regarding the Regulatory Compliance Memo, please refer to: 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/18/presidential-memoranda-regulatory-compliance

9.9% of Budget

69
Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

The EPA has achieved impressive pollution control and health benefits through vigorous 

compliance monitoring and enforcement, but tough enforcement alone will not address 

all noncompliance problems. The sheer number of regulated facilities, the contribution 

of large numbers of smaller sources to environmental problems, and federal and state 

budget constraints, mean the EPA can no longer rely primarily on the traditional single 

facility inspection and enforcement approach to ensure widespread compliance2. In 

light of the fiscal constraints, the need to innovate is even greater if the EPA is to 

achieve gains in compliance over the long-term. Instead, the EPA needs to develop and 

implement a new paradigm that relies heavily on advances in both monitoring and 

information technology and that will improve oversight and reduce burdens on business. 

This new paradigm is called “Next Generation Compliance.” There are multiple 

components to this new paradigm: the use of modern monitoring technology to detect 

pollution problems; electronic reporting by facilities so that quality, complete and timely 

information on compliance and pollutants can be obtained; transparency so the public is 

aware of facility and government environmental performance; implementation of 

innovative enforcement approaches; and structuring regulations to drive compliance. In 

FY 2013, the national Enforcement and Compliance Assurance program will increase 

efforts to implement Next Generation Compliance approaches to help achieve the 

EPA’s goals more efficiently and effectively while continuing to pursue high priority 

work. 

In FY 2013, the EPA will focus on addressing the most important public health and 

environmental compliance problems. In addition, the Agency proposes to accelerate its 

Next Generation Compliance approaches to harness the tools of 21st century 

technology to make this program more efficient and effective for the future. For 

example, the burden and costs of monitoring and compliance reporting can be reduced 

for the EPA, states and businesses by investing in modern monitoring and electronic 

reporting technology. This would allow the EPA and states to move away from the 

traditional model of reliance on time-consuming and expensive individual facility 

inspections and paper reporting. The Agency also will continue to emphasize the 

importance of making compliance information publicly available to better serve the 

American people and provide an efficient and effective incentive to promote compliance 

with environmental laws. 

Major FY 2013 Changes

It is critically important that the EPA continually assess its priorities and embrace new 

approaches that can help achieve goals more efficiently and effectively. The EPA’s FY 

2013 budget submission for the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance program 

decreases some program areas so the Agency can continue to pursue the highest 

priority work, including work on the national enforcement initiatives. 

 

2

 www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/civil/cwa/actionplan101409.pdf 

70
Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

In FY 2013, the Agency will redirect or refocus resources within the enforcement and 

compliance programs in order to accelerate efforts to increase compliance with the 

nation’s environmental laws. This effort will enhance the EPA’s ability to detect 

violations that impact public health, reduce transaction costs for the regulated 

community, and better engage the public to drive behavioral changes in compliance. 

The EPA will promote e-reporting by implementing new technologies, develop and 

disseminate advanced monitoring tools, upgrade Agency IT infrastructure to exploit 

more fully the wealth of new monitoring data, and modernize the EPA’s approach to 

enforcement by ensuring new and existing rules incorporate electronic reporting. In FY 

2013, a key element of this approach will be modifying data systems to implement ereporting with regulated facilities, leading to improved compliance and transparency, 

and more efficient processes that do not rely on paper-based reporting. The EPA and 

states will have access to more complete, timely and accurate data that will improve our 

ability to prioritize permitting, monitoring, and enforcement actions. Funding for this 

effort in FY 2013 would allow the cost savings and cost avoidance to begin to accrue to 

the EPA, states, and industry as a result of converting paper-based reporting to 

electronic reporting.

The EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Assurance program will see an 

overall reduction of 45.0 FTE, a cut of 1.3 percent from FY 2012 FTE levels. The EPA 

will prioritize resources to continue to address the most important public health and 

environmental compliance problems, and will reduce efforts in a variety of program 

areas based on objective factors such as relative risks to public health or the 

environment, levels of non-compliance, states’ ability to provide compliance oversight 

and enforcement, and other factors such as statutory or treaty obligations. In times of 

declining resources, it is critical not only to carefully assess the highest priorities but 

also to develop strategies that can help achieve goals more efficiently and effectively. 

The EPA is reducing by $1.3 million, funding associated with Potentially Responsible 

Party (PRP) searches and settlement activity under the Superfund Enforcement 

program. This reduction also would decrease funding provided to the Department of 

Justice for Superfund settlement efforts. The request would also reduce compliance 

assistance and clean up oversight activities at federal facilities under the Superfund 

Federal Facilities Enforcement program. 

Priority Goal

The EPA has established a FY 2012-2013 Priority Goal on electronic reporting. While 

the enforcement program has a lead role in implementing this goal by co-chairing a 

newly formed Agency task force, this is an Agency goal across EPA programs. This 

Priority Goal will: 

 Increase transparency and reduce burden through e-Reporting. By September 

30, 2013, develop a plan to convert existing paper reports into electronic 

71
Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

reporting, establish electronic reporting in at least four key programs, and adopt a 

policy for including electronic reporting in new rules. 

Additional information on the Agency's Priority Goals can be found at 

www.performance.gov. 

FY 2013 Activities

The FY 2013 budget incorporates difficult decisions to reduce spending for lower priority 

activities. Nevertheless, the Agency is committed to implementing a strong enforcement 

and compliance program focused on identifying and reducing non-compliance and 

deterring future violations. To meet these goals, the program employs a variety of 

activities, including data collection and analysis, compliance monitoring, assistance and 

incentives, civil and criminal enforcement efforts and innovative problem-solving 

approaches to identify and address the most significant environmental issues. In FY 

2013 these efforts will be enhanced through Next Generation Compliance approaches 

that rely on 21st century reporting and monitoring tools to advance implementation of the 

Administrator’s priorities as well as the Agency’s core program work. In FY 2013, the 

Agency is requesting a total of $620.1 million and 3,324.6 FTE for its Enforcement and 

Compliance Assurance program. The major activities include the following: 

 

Focus Areas: 

 Protecting Air Quality: The EPA will focus on the largest sources of air pollution, 

including coal-fired power plants and the cement, acid and glass sectors, to improve 

air quality. Enforcement to cut toxic air pollution in communities improves the health 

of communities, particularly those overburdened by pollution. 

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 requires increased use 

of renewable fuels. The EPA’s Civil Enforcement program will help the regulated 

community understand their statutory obligations under EISA; inspect renewable fuel 

production facilities; monitor compliance with renewable fuel requirements; monitor 

and enforce the credit trading program; and, undertake administrative and judicial 

enforcement actions, as appropriate. 

 Protecting America’s Waters: Pursuant to the Clean Water Act Action Plan, the EPA 

is working with states to revamp compliance and enforcement approaches to more 

effectively and efficiently address the most important water pollution problems. This 

work includes getting raw sewage out of water, cutting pollution from animal waste, 

and reducing pollution from stormwater runoff. These efforts will help to clean up 

great waters like the Chesapeake Bay and will focus on revitalizing urban 

communities by protecting and restoring urban waters. Enforcement also will support 

the goal of assuring clean drinking water for all communities, including small 

systems and in Indian country. 

 Cleaning Up Our Communities: The EPA protects communities by ensuring that 

responsible parties conduct cleanups, saving federal dollars for sites where there 

72
Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

are no viable contributing parties. Ensuring that responsible parties clean up the 

sites also reduces direct human exposure to hazardous pollutants and 

contaminants, provides for long-term human health protection, and ultimately makes 

contaminated properties available for reuse. 

The EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action 

enforcement program supports the goal set by the Agency and its state partners of 

attaining remedy construction at 95 percent of 3,747 RCRA facilities by the year 

2020. In 2010, the EPA issued the “National Enforcement Strategy for Corrective 

Action” to promote and communicate nationally consistent enforcement and 

compliance assurance principles, practices, and tools to help achieve this goal. In 

FY 2013, the EPA will continue targeted enforcement under the Strategy and will 

work with its state partners to assess the contribution of enforcement in working 

towards the 2020 goal. 

 Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution: Strengthening chemical 

safety enforcement and reducing exposure to pesticides will improve the health of 

Americans. Enforcement reduces direct human exposures to toxic chemicals and 

pesticides and supports long-term human health protection. 

Compliance Monitoring 

The EPA’s Compliance Monitoring program reviews and evaluates the activities of the 

regulated community to determine compliance with applicable laws, regulations, permit 

conditions and settlement agreements, as well as to determine whether conditions 

presenting imminent and substantial endangerment exist. In FY 2013, the EPA’s 

compliance monitoring activities will be both environmental media- and sector-based. 

The EPA’s media-based inspections complement those performed by states and tribes, 

and are a key part of the strategy for meeting the long-term and annual goals 

established for the air, water, pesticides, toxic substances and hazardous waste 

programs. The EPA will target its inspections to the highest priority areas and 

coordinate inspection activity with states and tribes, but noncompliance may potentially 

go undetected or increase. In FY 2013, as part of Next Generation Compliance, the 

Agency will continue to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Compliance 

Monitoring program by emphasizing electronic reporting (e-reporting), enhancing data 

systems to collect, synthesize and disseminate monitoring data, and deploying state of 

the art monitoring equipment to the field. 

Compliance monitoring also includes the EPA’s management and use of data systems 

to run its compliance and enforcement programs under the various statutes and 

programs that the EPA enforces. In FY 2013, the Agency will accelerate the process of 

enhancing its data systems to support electronic reporting, providing more 

comprehensive, accessible data to the public and improving integration of 

environmental information with health data and other pertinent data sources from other 

federal agencies and private entities. The Agency will complete Phase II of its multi-year 

project to modernize the Permit Compliance System (PCS) by moving all of the 

73
Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

remaining states from PCS to the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS). 

The EPA will then focus its resources on the last Phase of ICIS, Phase III, to modernize 

the Air Facility System (AFS). ICIS supports both compliance monitoring and civil 

enforcement. In FY 2013, the proposed Compliance Monitoring budget is $126.6 million 

and 634.5 FTE. 

Civil Enforcement 

The Civil Enforcement program’s overarching goal is to assure compliance with the 

nation’s environmental laws and regulations in order to protect human health and the 

environment. The program collaborates with the Department of Justice, states, local 

agencies and tribal governments to ensure consistent and fair enforcement of all 

environmental laws and regulations. The program seeks to protect public health and the 

environment and ensure a level playing field by strengthening partnerships with coimplementers in the states, encouraging regulated entities to rapidly correct their own 

violations, ensuring that violators do not realize an economic benefit from 

noncompliance and pursuing enforcement to deter future violations. In FY 2013, the 

Civil Enforcement program will benefit from the Next Generation Compliance initiative 

by deploying state of the art monitoring equipment to the field and increasing the use of 

e-reporting. The EPA and states will be able to target limited inspection and 

enforcement resources in those areas where they are most needed such as complex 

industrial operations requiring physical inspection, repeat violators, and cases involving 

significant harm to human health or the environment, or potential criminal violations. 

 

The Civil Enforcement program develops, litigates and settles administrative and civil 

judicial cases against serious violators of environmental laws. In FY 2011, the EPA’s 

enforcement actions required companies to invest an estimated $19 billion in actions 

and equipment to control pollution (injunctive relief) – a record amount. Also in FY 2011, 

the EPA’s enforcement actions required companies to reduce pollution by an estimated 

1.8 billion pounds per year – the second highest amount since the EPA began 

measuring pollutant reductions from enforcement cases using current methodologies. In 

addition, the EPA’s top 15 Clean Air Act enforcement actions of FY 2011 reduced 

emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and VOCs, resulting in 

projected health benefits and other environmental improvements valued at $15 to $36 

billion each year. 

In FY 2013, the EPA will focus on national priorities and repeat violators, especially in 

communities that may be disproportionately exposed to risks and harm from pollutants 

in their environment, including minority and/or low-income areas. Specifically, in FY 

2013, the EPA will continue to target implementation of the National Enforcement 

Initiatives established for FY 2011-2013. These national initiatives address problems 

that remain complex and challenging, including Clean Water Act “wet weather” 

discharges, violations of the Clean Air Act New Source Review/Prevention of Significant 

Deterioration requirements and Air Toxics regulations, RCRA violations at mineral 

processing facilities, and multi-media problems resulting from energy extraction 

activities. Information on initiatives, regulatory requirements, enforcement alerts and 

74
Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

EPA results will be made available to the public and the regulated community through 

web sites. The Civil Enforcement program also will support the Environmental Justice 

program and the Administrator’s priority to address pollution impacting vulnerable 

populations. In addition, the Civil Enforcement program will help to implement the 

President’s directive to develop and implement a compliance and enforcement strategy 

for the Chesapeake Bay, providing strong oversight to ensure existing regulations are 

complied with consistently and in a timely manner. In FY 2013, the proposed budget for 

Civil Enforcement is $192.7 million and 1,205.7 FTE. 

Criminal Enforcement 

Criminal Enforcement underlies the EPA’s commitment to pursuing the most serious 

pollution violations. The EPA’s Criminal Enforcement program investigates and helps 

prosecute environmental violations that seriously threaten public health and the 

environment and involve intentional, deliberate or criminal behavior on the part of the 

violator. The Criminal Enforcement program deters violations of environmental laws and 

regulations by demonstrating that the regulated community will be held accountable 

through jail sentences and criminal fines. Bringing criminal cases to court sends a 

strong deterrence message to potential violators, enhances aggregate compliance with 

laws and regulations, and protects communities. 

The program has completed its three-year hiring strategy, raising the number of special 

agents to 200. To make the best use of resources, the program will work to reduce case 

work in lower priority areas and use the special agent capacity to address complex 

environmental cases in FY 2013. To accomplish this, the Criminal Enforcement program 

will expand its identification and investigation of cases with significant environmental, 

human health and deterrence impact. The EPA’s Criminal Enforcement program will 

focus on cases across all media that involve serious harm or injury; hazardous or toxic 

releases; ongoing, repetitive, or multiple releases; serious documented exposure to 

pollutants; and violators with significant repeat or chronic noncompliance or prior 

criminal conviction. In FY 2013, the proposed budget for Criminal Enforcement is $59.6 

million and 298.2 FTE. 

Superfund Enforcement 

The EPA’s Superfund Enforcement program protects communities by ensuring that 

responsible parties conduct cleanups of hazardous waste sites, preserving federal 

dollars for sites where there are no viable contributing parties. Superfund Enforcement 

uses an “enforcement first” approach that maximizes the participation of liable and 

viable parties in performing and paying for cleanups in both the remedial and removal 

programs; however, due to the fiscally constrained environment, the EPA will reduce 

resources that support program activities, including PRP searches, cleanup settlements, 

and cost recovery. Similarly, cuts in Superfund Federal Facilities enforcement will place 

greater focus on federal agencies actively managing their own cleanup efforts. The 

Agency will continually assess its priorities and embrace new approaches that can help 

achieve its goals more efficiently and effectively. 

75
Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

Enforcement authorities play a unique role under the Superfund program. The 

authorities are used to ensure that responsible parties conduct a majority of the cleanup 

actions and reimburse the federal government for cleanups financed by Federal 

resources. In tandem with this approach, various reforms have been implemented to 

increase fairness, reduce transaction costs, promote economic development and make 

sites available for appropriate reuse.3 Ensuring that responsible parties cleanup sites 

ultimately reduces direct human exposures to hazardous pollutants and contaminants, 

provides for long-term human health protections and makes contaminated properties 

available for reuse. 

The Department of Justice supports the EPA’s Superfund Enforcement program 

through negotiations and judicial actions to compel PRP cleanup and litigation to 

recover Trust Fund monies. The Agency is providing $23.7 million to the Department of 

Justice through an Interagency Agreement. In FY 2011, the Superfund Enforcement 

program secured private party commitments that exceeded $3.3 billion. Of this amount, 

PRPs have committed to future response work with an estimated value of approximately 

$3 billion; PRPs have agreed to reimburse the agency for $298.6 million in past costs; 

and PRPs have been billed by the EPA for approximately $74 million in oversight costs. 

The EPA also works to ensure that required legally enforceable institutional controls and 

financial assurance instruments are in place and adhered to at Superfund sites and at 

facilities subject to RCRA Corrective Action to ensure the long-term protectiveness of 

cleanup actions. 

The Forensics Support program provides specialized scientific and technical support for 

the nation’s most complex Superfund civil and criminal enforcement cases, as well as 

technical expertise for Agency compliance efforts. In FY 2013, the National 

Enforcement Investigations Center (NEIC) will continue to function under rigorous 

International Standards Organization 17025 requirements for environmental data 

measurements to maintain its accreditation. Due to reduced funding and the need to 

direct resources to the Agency’s highest priorities, the Agency is reducing funding for 

the forensics laboratory at the National Enforcement Investigations Center (NEIC). This 

decrease would reduce NEIC’s support for civil enforcement cases under CERCLA 

authorities and their ability to support complex enforcement cases, and criminal 

investigations. 

Partnering with States, Tribes and Communities 

The EPA shares accountability for environmental and human health protection with 

states and tribes. Most states are authorized or have been delegated the legal 

responsibility for implementing the major federal environmental protection programs, 

including the compliance and enforcement responsibilities. The Agency works together 

with the states to target the most important pollution violations and ensure that 

companies that meet their obligations and are responsible neighbors are not put at a 

 

3

 For more information regarding the EPA’s enforcement program and its various components, please refer to 

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/cleanup/superfund/

76
Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

competitive disadvantage. The EPA also has a responsibility to oversee state and tribal 

implementation of federal laws to provide that the same level of protection for the 

environment and the public applies across the country. In FY 2013, the Agency is 

requesting $24.3 million for enforcement and compliance categorical grants. 

The EPA’s enforcement and compliance program promotes environmental justice by 

targeting pollution problems that disproportionately affect low income, minority, and/or 

tribal communities. Compliance with environmental laws is particularly important in 

communities that are exposed to greater environmental health risks. The EPA also 

fosters community involvement by making information about compliance and 

government action available to the public. The Agency also strives to provide increased 

transparency; by making information on violations both available and understandable to 

communities, the EPA empowers citizens to demand, and motivates regulated facilities 

to provide, better compliance with environmental laws. 

77
Appendices

78
Resources by Appropriation

Summary of Agency Resources by Appropriation 

(Dollars in Thousands) 

Appropriation Account

FY 2011 

Enacted

FY 2012 

Enacted

FY 2013 

President’s 

Budget

Change

FY 12 EN to 

FY 13 PB

Science & Technology (S&T) 1 $813,480 $793,728 $807,257 $13,529

Environmental Programs & Management (EPM) $2,756,470 $2,678,222 $2,817,179 $138,957

Inspector General (IG) 1 $44,701 $41,933 $48,273 $6,340

Buildings & Facilities (B&F) $36,428 $36,370 $41,969 $5,599

Inland Oil Spill Programs (OIL) $18,342 $18,245 $23,531 $5,286

Superfund (SF) $1,280,908 $1,213,808 $1,176,431 ($37,377)

- Superfund Programs $1,244,173 $1,180,890 $1,142,342 ($38,548)

- Inspector General Transfer $9,955 $9,939 $10,864 $925

- Science & Technology Transfer $26,780 $22,979 $23,225 $246

Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) $112,875 $104,142 $104,117 ($25)

State & Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) $3,758,913 $3,612,937 $3,355,723 ($257,214)

Rescission or Cancellation of Prior Year Funds ($140,000) ($50,000) ($30,000) $20,000

Agency Total: $8,682,117 $8,449,385 $8,344,480 ($104,905)

1 Does not include Superfund transfers—see the Superfund line items below for annual amounts.

79
80
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Science & Technology

Clean Air and Climate

Clean Air Allowance Trading Programs $9,934.0 $9,082.0 $9,797.0 $715.0

Climate Protection Program $18,487.9 $16,319.0 $7,760.0 ($8,559.0)

Federal Support for Air Quality Management $11,054.0 $7,091.0 $7,622.0 $531.0

Federal Support for Air Toxics Program $2,540.1 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Federal Vehicle and Fuels Standards and Certification $100,691.6 $91,886.0 $101,929.0 $10,043.0

Subtotal, Clean Air and Climate $142,707.6 $124,378.0 $127,108.0 $2,730.0

Indoor Air and Radiation

Indoor Air: Radon Program $446.1 $210.0 $0.0 ($210.0)

Reduce Risks from Indoor Air $809.8 $370.0 $379.0 $9.0

Radiation: Protection $2,275.4 $2,094.0 $2,126.0 $32.0

Radiation: Response Preparedness $4,181.9 $4,076.0 $4,156.0 $80.0

Subtotal, Indoor Air and Radiation $7,713.2 $6,750.0 $6,661.0 ($89.0)

Enforcement

Forensics Support $16,354.3 $15,269.0 $15,593.0 $324.0

Homeland Security

Homeland Security: Critical Infrastructure Protection

Water Security Initiative $12,097.2 $8,606.0 $7,023.0 ($1,583.0)

Homeland Security: Critical Infrastructure Protection 

(other activities) $6,401.5 $2,755.0 $2,756.0 $1.0

Subtotal, Homeland Security: Critical Infrastructure 

Protection $18,498.7 $11,361.0 $9,779.0 ($1,582.0)

Homeland Security: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery 

Decontamination $23,537.6 $17,356.0 $17,185.0 ($171.0)

Laboratory Preparedness and Response $100.1 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Safe Building $791.5 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Homeland Security: Preparedness, Response, and 

Recovery (other activities) $17,107.6 $12,678.0 $12,523.0 ($155.0)

Subtotal, Homeland Security: Preparedness, Response, 

and Recovery $41,536.8 $30,034.0 $29,708.0 ($326.0)

Homeland Security: Protection of EPA Personnel and 

Infrastructure $592.0 $578.0 $579.0 $1.0

Subtotal, Homeland Security $60,627.5 $41,973.0 $40,066.0 ($1,907.0)

81
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

IT / Data Management / Security

IT / Data Management $3,483.7 $3,652.0 $4,047.0 $395.0

Operations and Administration

Facilities Infrastructure and Operations

Rent $30,251.9 $35,605.0 $34,899.0 ($706.0)

Utilities $20,159.3 $20,162.0 $20,202.0 $40.0

Security $9,300.6 $10,696.0 $11,066.0 $370.0

Facilities Infrastructure and Operations (other 

activities) $9,724.3 $5,556.0 $9,318.0 $3,762.0

Subtotal, Facilities Infrastructure and Operations $69,436.1 $72,019.0 $75,485.0 $3,466.0

Subtotal, Operations and Administration $69,436.1 $72,019.0 $75,485.0 $3,466.0

Pesticides Licensing

Pesticides: Protect Human Health from Pesticide Risk $4,118.8 $3,757.0 $3,919.0 $162.0

Pesticides: Protect the Environment from Pesticide Risk $1,995.2 $2,289.0 $2,604.0 $315.0

Pesticides: Realize the Value of Pesticide Availability $522.8 $517.0 $575.0 $58.0

Subtotal, Pesticides Licensing $6,636.8 $6,563.0 $7,098.0 $535.0

Research: Air, Climate and Energy

Research: Air, Climate and Energy

Global Change $19,416.9 $18,276.0 $20,281.0 $2,005.0

Clean Air $91,122.7 $78,526.0 $82,853.0 $4,327.0

Research: Air, Climate and Energy (other activities) $9,216.4 $2,043.0 $2,760.0 $717.0

Subtotal, Research: Air, Climate and Energy $119,756.0 $98,845.0 $105,894.0 $7,049.0

Subtotal, Research: Air, Climate and Energy $119,756.0 $98,845.0 $105,894.0 $7,049.0

Research: Safe and Sustainable Water Resources

Research: Safe and Sustainable Water Resources

Drinking Water $50,885.3 $50,152.0 $51,606.0 $1,454.0

Water Quality $66,573.0 $63,274.0 $69,532.0 $6,258.0

Research: Safe and Sustainable Water Resources 

(other activities) $0.0 $50.0 $52.0 $2.0

Subtotal, Research: Safe and Sustainable Water Resources $117,458.3 $113,476.0 $121,190.0 $7,714.0

Subtotal, Research: Safe and Sustainable Water Resources $117,458.3 $113,476.0 $121,190.0 $7,714.0

82
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Research: Sustainable Communities

Research: Sustainable and Healthy Communities

Human Health $52,904.5 $45,318.0 $44,500.0 ($818.0)

Ecosystems $68,740.8 $60,806.0 $60,180.0 ($626.0)

Research: Sustainable and Healthy Communities 

(other activities) $70,790.8 $64,617.0 $61,050.0 ($3,567.0)

Subtotal, Research: Sustainable and Healthy Communities $192,436.1 $170,741.0 $165,730.0 ($5,011.0)

Subtotal, Research: Sustainable Communities $192,436.1 $170,741.0 $165,730.0 ($5,011.0)

Research: Chemical Safety and Sustainability

Human Health Risk Assessment $46,140.1 $39,553.0 $40,505.0 $952.0

Research: Chemical Safety and Sustainability

Endocrine Disruptors $10,708.8 $16,861.0 $16,253.0 ($608.0)

Computational Toxicology $22,412.4 $21,177.0 $21,267.0 $90.0

Research: Chemical Safety and Sustainability (other 

activities) $52,092.4 $53,697.0 $56,721.0 $3,024.0

Subtotal, Research: Chemical Safety and Sustainability $85,213.6 $91,735.0 $94,241.0 $2,506.0

Subtotal, Research: Chemical Safety and Sustainability $131,353.7 $131,288.0 $134,746.0 $3,458.0

Water: Human Health Protection

Drinking Water Programs $3,724.2 $3,782.0 $3,639.0 ($143.0)

Congressional Priorities

Congressionally Mandated Projects $5,582.0 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Water Quality Research and Support Grants $0.0 $4,992.0 $0.0 ($4,992.0)

Subtotal, Congressional Priorities $5,582.0 $4,992.0 $0.0 ($4,992.0)

Total, Science & Technology $877,269.5 $793,728.0 $807,257.0 $13,529.0

Environmental Program & Management

Clean Air and Climate

Clean Air Allowance Trading Programs $20,877.3 $20,811.0 $20,888.0 $77.0

Climate Protection Program

Energy STAR $52,306.0 $49,668.0 $53,872.0 $4,204.0

Methane to markets $4,863.0 $5,013.0 $4,927.0 ($86.0)

83
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Greenhouse Gas Reporting Registry $18,357.6 $15,757.0 $18,694.0 $2,937.0

Climate Protection Program (other activities) $40,808.6 $29,043.0 $30,498.0 $1,455.0

Subtotal, Climate Protection Program $116,335.2 $99,481.0 $107,991.0 $8,510.0

Federal Stationary Source Regulations $31,296.0 $27,298.0 $34,142.0 $6,844.0

Federal Support for Air Quality Management $106,081.2 $123,469.0 $134,841.0 $11,372.0

Federal Support for Air Toxics Program $24,005.5 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Stratospheric Ozone: Domestic Programs $5,157.6 $5,570.0 $5,643.0 $73.0

Stratospheric Ozone: Multilateral Fund $9,690.0 $9,479.0 $9,690.0 $211.0

Subtotal, Clean Air and Climate $313,442.8 $286,108.0 $313,195.0 $27,087.0

Indoor Air and Radiation

Indoor Air: Radon Program $5,318.5 $3,895.0 $2,198.0 ($1,697.0)

Reduce Risks from Indoor Air $21,503.0 $17,168.0 $17,393.0 $225.0

Radiation: Protection $11,156.0 $9,616.0 $9,760.0 $144.0

Radiation: Response Preparedness $3,439.8 $3,038.0 $3,083.0 $45.0

Subtotal, Indoor Air and Radiation $41,417.3 $33,717.0 $32,434.0 ($1,283.0)

Brownfields

Brownfields $24,443.8 $23,642.0 $25,685.0 $2,043.0

Compliance

Compliance Assistance and Centers $671.8 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Compliance Incentives $667.3 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Compliance Monitoring $109,266.9 $106,707.0 $125,209.0 $18,502.0

Subtotal, Compliance $110,606.0 $106,707.0 $125,209.0 $18,502.0

Enforcement

Civil Enforcement $179,391.2 $177,290.0 $188,957.0 $11,667.0

Criminal Enforcement $51,623.3 $48,123.0 $51,900.0 $3,777.0

Enforcement Training $410.3 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Environmental Justice $8,407.0 $6,848.0 $7,161.0 $313.0

NEPA Implementation $17,105.0 $17,298.0 $17,424.0 $126.0

Subtotal, Enforcement $256,936.8 $249,559.0 $265,442.0 $15,883.0

84
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Geographic Programs

Great Lakes Restoration $329,215.5 $299,520.0 $300,000.0 $480.0

Geographic Program: Chesapeake Bay $42,414.3 $57,299.0 $72,618.0 $15,319.0

Geographic Program: San Francisco Bay $4,357.2 $5,838.0 $4,857.0 ($981.0)

Geographic Program: Puget Sound $38,113.8 $29,952.0 $19,289.0 ($10,663.0)

Geographic Program: South Florida $1,643.8 $2,058.0 $1,700.0 ($358.0)

Geographic Program: Long Island Sound $6,154.3 $3,956.0 $2,962.0 ($994.0)

Geographic Program: Gulf of Mexico $4,881.6 $5,455.0 $4,436.0 ($1,019.0)

Geographic Program: Lake Champlain $6,732.1 $2,395.0 $1,399.0 ($996.0)

Geographic Program: Other

Northwest Forest $1,246.8 $1,294.0 $1,417.0 $123.0

Lake Pontchartrain $2,598.0 $1,952.0 $955.0 ($997.0)

Community Action for a Renewed Environment 

(CARE) $2,697.5 $0.0 $2,069.0 $2,069.0

Geographic Program: Other (other activities) $33,965.0 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Subtotal, Geographic Program: Other $40,507.3 $3,246.0 $4,441.0 $1,195.0

Subtotal, Geographic Programs $474,019.9 $409,719.0 $411,702.0 $1,983.0

Homeland Security

Homeland Security: Communication and Information $4,215.9 $4,249.0 $4,217.0 ($32.0)

Homeland Security: Critical Infrastructure Protection $2,411.5 $1,063.0 $2,087.0 $1,024.0

Homeland Security: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery 

Decontamination $791.5 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Homeland Security: Preparedness, Response, and 

Recovery (other activities) $481.3 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Subtotal, Homeland Security: Preparedness, Response, 

and Recovery $1,272.8 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Homeland Security: Protection of EPA Personnel and 

Infrastructure $6,497.0 $5,966.0 $5,999.0 $33.0

Subtotal, Homeland Security $14,397.2 $11,278.0 $12,303.0 $1,025.0

Information Exchange / Outreach 

Children and Other Sensitive Populations: Agency 

Coordination $8,790.8 $7,481.0 $10,923.0 $3,442.0

Environmental Education $6,962.2 $9,699.0 $0.0 ($9,699.0)

Congressional, Intergovernmental, External Relations $53,544.3 $47,638.0 $52,896.0 $5,258.0

85
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Exchange Network $17,816.6 $17,724.0 $23,008.0 $5,284.0

Small Business Ombudsman $3,106.9 $2,693.0 $3,018.0 $325.0

Small Minority Business Assistance $2,277.5 $2,079.0 $2,291.0 $212.0

State and Local Prevention and Preparedness $13,063.2 $13,320.0 $14,852.0 $1,532.0

TRI / Right to Know $16,634.5 $16,322.0 $17,354.0 $1,032.0

Tribal - Capacity Building $13,892.7 $13,736.0 $15,062.0 $1,326.0

Subtotal, Information Exchange / Outreach $136,088.7 $130,692.0 $139,404.0 $8,712.0

International Programs

US Mexico Border $4,872.0 $4,313.0 $4,490.0 $177.0

International Sources of Pollution $8,731.0 $7,659.0 $8,466.0 $807.0

Trade and Governance $6,230.1 $5,632.0 $6,178.0 $546.0

Subtotal, International Programs $19,833.1 $17,604.0 $19,134.0 $1,530.0

IT / Data Management / Security

Information Security $7,831.2 $6,786.0 $6,868.0 $82.0

IT / Data Management $96,614.1 $87,939.0 $88,893.0 $954.0

Subtotal, IT / Data Management / Security $104,445.3 $94,725.0 $95,761.0 $1,036.0

Legal / Science / Regulatory / Economic Review

Administrative Law $5,260.3 $5,198.0 $5,392.0 $194.0

Alternative Dispute Resolution $1,271.2 $1,194.0 $1,477.0 $283.0

Civil Rights / Title VI Compliance $11,740.4 $11,618.0 $13,974.0 $2,356.0

Legal Advice: Environmental Program $42,286.6 $40,746.0 $45,840.0 $5,094.0

Legal Advice: Support Program $15,692.6 $14,260.0 $16,064.0 $1,804.0

Regional Science and Technology $3,178.6 $2,591.0 $3,307.0 $716.0

Integrated Environmental Strategies $17,908.7 $14,754.0 $16,326.0 $1,572.0

Regulatory/Economic-Management and Analysis $20,329.8 $15,256.0 $23,345.0 $8,089.0

Science Advisory Board $6,074.9 $5,135.0 $6,727.0 $1,592.0

Subtotal, Legal / Science / Regulatory / Economic Review $123,743.1 $110,752.0 $132,452.0 $21,700.0

Operations and Administration

Facilities Infrastructure and Operations

Rent $161,589.3 $170,529.0 $171,152.0 $623.0

Utilities $12,566.5 $11,205.0 $10,660.0 ($545.0)

86
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Security $27,991.8 $29,216.0 $31,486.0 $2,270.0

Facilities Infrastructure and Operations (other 

activities) $118,392.6 $108,827.0 $118,018.0 $9,191.0

Subtotal, Facilities Infrastructure and Operations $320,540.2 $319,777.0 $331,316.0 $11,539.0

Central Planning, Budgeting, and Finance $85,541.1 $72,290.0 $78,817.0 $6,527.0

Acquisition Management $30,688.2 $33,175.0 $35,727.0 $2,552.0

Financial Assistance Grants / IAG Management $26,770.6 $24,002.0 $25,910.0 $1,908.0

Human Resources Management $46,839.9 $37,839.0 $39,428.0 $1,589.0

Subtotal, Operations and Administration $510,380.0 $487,083.0 $511,198.0 $24,115.0

Pesticides Licensing

Pesticides: Protect Human Health from Pesticide Risk $61,686.0 $58,208.0 $58,971.0 $763.0

Pesticides: Protect the Environment from Pesticide Risk $41,265.6 $37,854.0 $37,960.0 $106.0

Pesticides: Realize the Value of Pesticide Availability $13,065.8 $12,532.0 $12,306.0 ($226.0)

Science Policy and Biotechnology $1,672.9 $1,754.0 $1,770.0 $16.0

Subtotal, Pesticides Licensing $117,690.3 $110,348.0 $111,007.0 $659.0

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

RCRA: Waste Management

eManifest $0.0 $0.0 $2,000.0 $2,000.0

RCRA: Waste Management (other activities) $67,520.1 $63,500.0 $65,385.0 $1,885.0

Subtotal, RCRA: Waste Management $67,520.1 $63,500.0 $67,385.0 $3,885.0

RCRA: Corrective Action $37,156.3 $39,422.0 $40,265.0 $843.0

RCRA: Waste Minimization & Recycling $12,589.6 $9,547.0 $9,648.0 $101.0

Subtotal, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) $117,266.0 $112,469.0 $117,298.0 $4,829.0

Toxics Risk Review and Prevention

Endocrine Disruptors $9,624.6 $8,255.0 $7,238.0 ($1,017.0)

Toxic Substances: Chemical Risk Review and Reduction $59,752.2 $56,497.0 $67,644.0 $11,147.0

Pollution Prevention Program $15,994.6 $15,389.0 $15,888.0 $499.0

Toxic Substances: Chemical Risk Management $6,868.6 $6,032.0 $3,739.0 ($2,293.0)

Toxic Substances: Lead Risk Reduction Program $14,140.9 $13,798.0 $14,698.0 $900.0

Subtotal, Toxics Risk Review and Prevention $106,380.9 $99,971.0 $109,207.0 $9,236.0

87
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Underground Storage Tanks (LUST / UST) 

LUST / UST $11,622.7 $12,846.0 $12,283.0 ($563.0)

Water: Ecosystems

National Estuary Program / Coastal Waterways $31,528.9 $27,014.0 $27,304.0 $290.0

Wetlands $28,297.6 $21,160.0 $27,685.0 $6,525.0

Subtotal, Water: Ecosystems $59,826.5 $48,174.0 $54,989.0 $6,815.0

Water: Human Health Protection

Beach / Fish Programs $2,896.2 $2,552.0 $702.0 ($1,850.0)

Drinking Water Programs $104,689.8 $98,547.0 $104,613.0 $6,066.0

Subtotal, Water: Human Health Protection $107,586.0 $101,099.0 $105,315.0 $4,216.0

Water Quality Protection

Marine Pollution $15,570.5 $12,898.0 $11,587.0 ($1,311.0)

Surface Water Protection $217,119.1 $203,856.0 $211,574.0 $7,718.0

Subtotal, Water Quality Protection $232,689.6 $216,754.0 $223,161.0 $6,407.0

Congressional Priorities

Congressionally Mandated Projects $750.0 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Water Quality Research and Support Grants $0.0 $14,975.0 $0.0 ($14,975.0)

Subtotal, Congressional Priorities $750.0 $14,975.0 $0.0 ($14,975.0)

Total, Environmental Program & Management $2,883,566.0 $2,678,222.0 $2,817,179.0 $138,957.0

Inspector General

Audits, Evaluations, and Investigations

Audits, Evaluations, and Investigations $46,627.9 $41,933.0 $48,273.0 $6,340.0

Total, Inspector General $46,627.9 $41,933.0 $48,273.0 $6,340.0

Building and Facilities

Homeland Security

Homeland Security: Protection of EPA Personnel and 

Infrastructure $8,269.1 $7,044.0 $8,038.0 $994.0

88
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Operations and Administration

Facilities Infrastructure and Operations $30,254.7 $29,326.0 $33,931.0 $4,605.0

Total, Building and Facilities $38,523.8 $36,370.0 $41,969.0 $5,599.0

Hazardous Substance Superfund

Indoor Air and Radiation

Radiation: Protection $2,478.4 $2,468.0 $2,637.0 $169.0

Audits, Evaluations, and Investigations

Audits, Evaluations, and Investigations $8,943.7 $9,939.0 $10,864.0 $925.0

Compliance

Compliance Incentives $5.6 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Compliance Monitoring $1,192.5 $1,221.0 $1,223.0 $2.0

Subtotal, Compliance $1,198.1 $1,221.0 $1,223.0 $2.0

Enforcement

Environmental Justice $1,128.7 $583.0 $613.0 $30.0

Superfund: Enforcement $179,163.7 $165,534.0 $166,309.0 $775.0

Superfund: Federal Facilities Enforcement $9,271.8 $10,296.0 $8,592.0 ($1,704.0)

Civil Enforcement $4.4 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Criminal Enforcement $7,845.9 $7,903.0 $7,680.0 ($223.0)

Enforcement Training $20.6 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Forensics Support $2,456.2 $2,419.0 $1,214.0 ($1,205.0)

Subtotal, Enforcement $199,891.3 $186,735.0 $184,408.0 ($2,327.0)

Homeland Security

Homeland Security: Critical Infrastructure Protection $9.1 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Homeland Security: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery 

Decontamination $6,557.0 $5,898.0 $5,868.0 ($30.0)

Laboratory Preparedness and Response $5,710.4 $5,626.0 $5,644.0 $18.0

Homeland Security: Preparedness, Response, and 

Recovery (other activities) $32,036.8 $29,075.0 $29,257.0 $182.0

Subtotal, Homeland Security: Preparedness, Response, 

and Recovery $44,304.2 $40,599.0 $40,769.0 $170.0

Homeland Security: Protection of EPA Personnel and 

Infrastructure $669.1 $1,170.0 $1,172.0 $2.0

Subtotal, Homeland Security $44,982.4 $41,769.0 $41,941.0 $172.0

89
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Information Exchange / Outreach

Congressional, Intergovernmental, External Relations $2.1 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Exchange Network $1,431.0 $1,431.0 $1,433.0 $2.0

Subtotal, Information Exchange / Outreach $1,433.1 $1,431.0 $1,433.0 $2.0

IT / Data Management / Security

Information Security $847.2 $728.0 $728.0 $0.0

IT / Data Management $17,640.0 $15,339.0 $14,855.0 ($484.0)

Subtotal, IT / Data Management / Security $18,487.2 $16,067.0 $15,583.0 ($484.0)

Legal / Science / Regulatory / Economic Review

Alternative Dispute Resolution $814.9 $844.0 $877.0 $33.0

Legal Advice: Environmental Program $711.9 $682.0 $755.0 $73.0

Subtotal, Legal / Science / Regulatory / Economic Review $1,526.8 $1,526.0 $1,632.0 $106.0

Operations and Administration

Facilities Infrastructure and Operations

Rent $43,776.9 $47,032.0 $46,005.0 ($1,027.0)

Utilities $3,320.8 $3,760.0 $3,455.0 ($305.0)

Security $7,034.5 $8,269.0 $8,594.0 $325.0

Facilities Infrastructure and Operations (other 

activities) $25,924.0 $21,480.0 $21,568.0 $88.0

Subtotal, Facilities Infrastructure and Operations $80,056.2 $80,541.0 $79,622.0 ($919.0)

Financial Assistance Grants / IAG Management $3,322.3 $3,128.0 $3,174.0 $46.0

Acquisition Management $23,672.0 $24,111.0 $25,961.0 $1,850.0

Human Resources Management $8,924.4 $6,346.0 $7,558.0 $1,212.0

Central Planning, Budgeting, and Finance $30,349.3 $21,632.0 $24,066.0 $2,434.0

Subtotal, Operations and Administration $146,324.2 $135,758.0 $140,381.0 $4,623.0

Research: Sustainable Communities

Research: Sustainable and Healthy Communities $21,347.9 $17,677.0 $17,798.0 $121.0

Research: Chemical Safety and Sustainability

Human Health Risk Assessment $3,737.6 $3,337.0 $3,316.0 ($21.0)

90
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Superfund Cleanup

Superfund: Emergency Response and Removal $242,375.9 $189,590.0 $188,500.0 ($1,090.0)

Superfund: EPA Emergency Preparedness $10,473.9 $9,244.0 $8,179.0 ($1,065.0)

Superfund: Federal Facilities $32,555.5 $26,199.0 $26,765.0 $566.0

Superfund: Remedial $707,200.8 $564,998.0 $531,771.0 ($33,227.0)

Superfund: Support to Other Federal Agencies $5,908.0 $5,849.0 $0.0 ($5,849.0)

Brownfields Projects $1,403.5 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Subtotal, Superfund Cleanup $999,917.6 $795,880.0 $755,215.0 ($40,665.0)

Total, Hazardous Substance Superfund $1,450,268.3 $1,213,808.0 $1,176,431.0 ($37,377.0)

Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

Enforcement

Civil Enforcement $644.0 $789.0 $792.0 $3.0

Compliance

Compliance Assistance and Centers $32.9 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

IT / Data Management / Security

IT / Data Management $47.7 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Operations and Administration

Facilities Infrastructure and Operations

Rent $695.0 $695.0 $636.0 ($59.0)

Facilities Infrastructure and Operations (other 

activities) $208.0 $220.0 $207.0 ($13.0)

Subtotal, Facilities Infrastructure and Operations $903.0 $915.0 $843.0 ($72.0)

Acquisition Management $148.2 $163.0 $161.0 ($2.0)

Central Planning, Budgeting, and Finance $1,093.7 $512.0 $509.0 ($3.0)

Subtotal, Operations and Administration $2,144.9 $1,590.0 $1,513.0 ($77.0)

Underground Storage Tanks (LUST / UST)

LUST / UST $13,926.8 $11,962.0 $11,490.0 ($472.0)

LUST Cooperative Agreements $64,459.5 $58,956.0 $57,402.0 ($1,554.0)

LUST Prevention $37,093.9 $30,449.0 $32,430.0 $1,981.0

Subtotal, Underground Storage Tanks (LUST / UST) $115,480.2 $101,367.0 $101,322.0 ($45.0)

91
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Research: Sustainable Communities

Research: Sustainable and Healthy Communities $501.6 $396.0 $490.0 $94.0

Total, Leaking Underground Storage Tanks $118,851.3 $104,142.0 $104,117.0 ($25.0)

Oil Spill Response

Compliance

Compliance Assistance and Centers $5.4 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Compliance Monitoring $111.2 $138.0 $142.0 $4.0

Subtotal, Compliance $116.6 $138.0 $142.0 $4.0

Enforcement

Civil Enforcement $2,209.6 $2,286.0 $2,968.0 $682.0

Oil

Oil Spill: Prevention, Preparedness and Response $15,630.7 $14,673.0 $19,290.0 $4,617.0

Operations and Administration

Facilities Infrastructure and Operations

Rent $437.0 $437.0 $426.0 ($11.0)

Facilities Infrastructure and Operations (other 

activities) $82.5 $98.0 $87.0 ($11.0)

Subtotal, Facilities Infrastructure and Operations $519.5 $535.0 $513.0 ($22.0)

Subtotal, Operations and Administration $519.5 $535.0 $513.0 ($22.0)

Research: Sustainable Communities

Research: Sustainable and Healthy Communities $1,204.3 $613.0 $618.0 $5.0

Total, Oil Spill Response $19,680.7 $18,245.0 $23,531.0 $5,286.0

State and Tribal Assistance Grants

State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG)

Infrastructure Assistance: Clean Water SRF $1,936,433.5 $1,466,456.0 $1,175,000.0 ($291,456.0)

Infrastructure Assistance: Drinking Water SRF $1,101,827.8 $917,892.0 $850,000.0 ($67,892.0)

Infrastructure Assistance: Alaska Native Villages $10,327.2 $9,984.0 $10,000.0 $16.0

92
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Brownfields Projects $106,685.8 $94,848.0 $93,291.0 ($1,557.0)

Clean School Bus Initiative $35.2 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant Program $53,586.9 $29,952.0 $15,000.0 ($14,952.0)

Targeted Airshed Grants $10,000.0 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Infrastructure Assistance: Mexico Border $14,669.1 $4,992.0 $10,000.0 $5,008.0

Subtotal, State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) $3,233,565.5 $2,524,124.0 $2,153,291.0 ($370,833.0)

Categorical Grants

Categorical Grant: Beaches Protection $11,001.3 $9,864.0 $0.0 ($9,864.0)

Categorical Grant: Brownfields $51,185.5 $49,317.0 $47,572.0 ($1,745.0)

Categorical Grant: Environmental Information $9,950.4 $9,964.0 $15,200.0 $5,236.0

Categorical Grant: Hazardous Waste Financial Assistance $111,206.3 $102,974.0 $103,412.0 $438.0

Categorical Grant: Homeland Security $637.1 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Categorical Grant: Lead $15,599.4 $14,512.0 $14,855.0 $343.0

Categorical Grant: Local Govt Climate Change $10,499.5 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Categorical Grant: Nonpoint Source (Sec. 319) $201,615.8 $164,493.0 $164,757.0 $264.0

Categorical Grant: Pesticides Enforcement $19,930.9 $18,644.0 $19,085.0 $441.0

Categorical Grant: Pesticides Program Implementation $13,807.8 $13,119.0 $13,140.0 $21.0

Categorical Grant: Pollution Control (Sec. 106)

Monitoring Grants $15,402.5 $18,433.0 $18,500.0 $67.0

Categorical Grant: Pollution Control (Sec. 106) 

(other activities) $237,114.3 $219,970.0 $246,764.0 $26,794.0

Subtotal, Categorical Grant: Pollution Control (Sec. 106) $252,516.8 $238,403.0 $265,264.0 $26,861.0

Categorical Grant: Pollution Prevention $5,685.0 $4,922.0 $5,039.0 $117.0

Categorical Grant: Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) $109,387.1 $105,320.0 $109,700.0 $4,380.0

Categorical Grant: Radon $8,720.0 $8,045.0 $0.0 ($8,045.0)

Categorical Grant: State and Local Air Quality Management $249,061.4 $235,729.0 $301,500.0 $65,771.0

Categorical Grant: Sector Program $1,879.2 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Categorical Grant: Targeted Watersheds $780.3 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Categorical Grant: Toxics Substances Compliance $5,551.7 $5,081.0 $5,201.0 $120.0

Categorical Grant: Tribal Air Quality Management $14,365.8 $13,252.0 $13,566.0 $314.0

Categorical Grant: Tribal General Assistance Program $69,331.2 $67,631.0 $96,375.0 $28,744.0

Categorical Grant: Underground Injection Control (UIC) $11,844.3 $10,852.0 $11,109.0 $257.0

Categorical Grant: Underground Storage Tanks $2,759.8 $1,548.0 $1,490.0 ($58.0)

Categorical Grant: Water Quality Cooperative Agreements $1,335.5 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Categorical Grant: Wetlands Program Development $26,138.1 $15,143.0 $15,167.0 $24.0

Subtotal, Categorical Grants $1,204,790.2 $1,088,813.0 $1,202,432.0 $113,619.0

93
Program/Projects by Program Area 

Program/Projects by Program Area

(Dollars in Thousands)

Appropriation

Program Area

Program/Project

 Sub-Program/ Project

FY 2011

Actuals

FY 2012

Enacted

FY 2013

President’s

Budget

Change FY12 

Enacted to 

FY13 PresBud

Congressional Priorities

Congressionally Mandated Projects $117,641.8 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Total, State and Tribal Assistance Grants $4,555,997.5 $3,612,937.0 $3,355,723.0 ($257,214.0)

SUBTOTAL, EPA (Excludes Rescission or Cancellation of Prior 

Year Funds) $9,990,785.0 $8,499,385.0 $8,374,480.0 ($124,905.0)

Rescission of Prior Year Funds $0.0 ($50,000.0) ($30,000.0) $20,000.0

TOTAL, EPA $9,990,785.0 $8,449,385.0 $8,344,480.0 ($104,905.0)

94
Categorical Program Grants (STAG)

by National Program and State Grant

(Dollars in Thousands)

 Categorical Grants 

NPM / Grant 

FY 2011 

Actuals*

FY 2012 

Enacted

FY 2013 

PresBud

Delta 

FY 13 PB - 

FY 12 EN % Change

Air & Radiation

State and Local Assistance $249,061 $235,729 $301,500 $65,771 27.9%

Tribal Air Quality Management $14,366 $13,252 $13,566 $314 2.4%

Radon $8,720 $8,045 $0 ($8,045) -100.0%

Local Government Climate Change $10,500 $0 $0 $0 0.0%

$282,647 $257,026 $315,066 $58,040 22.6%

Water

Pollution Control (Section 106) $252,517 $238,403 $265,264 $26,861 11.3%

Beaches Protection $11,001 $9,864 $0 ($9,864) -100.0%

Nonpoint Source (Section 319) $201,616 $164,493 $164,757 $264 0.2%

Wetlands Program Development $26,138 $15,143 $15,167 $24 0.2%

Targeted Watersheds $780 $0 $0 $0 0.0%

Water Quality Cooperative Agreements $1,336 $0 $0 $0 0.0%

$493,388 $427,903 $445,188 $17,285 4.0%

Drinking Water

Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) $109,387 $105,320 $109,700 $4,380 4.2%

Underground Injection Control (UIC) $11,844 $10,852 $11,109 $257 2.4%

Homeland Security $637 $0 $0 $0 0.0%

$121,869 $116,172 $120,809 $4,637 4.0%

Hazardous Waste

H.W. Financial Assistance $111,206 $102,974 $103,412 $438 0.4%

Brownfields $51,186 $49,317 $47,572 ($1,745) -3.5%

Underground Storage Tanks $2,760 $1,548 $1,490 ($58) -3.7%

$165,152 $153,839 $152,474 ($1,365) -0.9%

Pesticides & Toxics

Pesticides Program Implementation $13,808 $13,119 $13,140 $21 0.2%

Lead $15,599 $14,512 $14,855 $343 2.2%

Toxic Substances Compliance $5,552 $5,081 $5,201 $120 2.2%

Pesticides Enforcement $19,931 $18,644 $19,085 $441 2.2%

$54,890 $51,356 $52,281 $925 1.8%

Multimedia

Environmental Information $9,950 $9,964 $15,200 $5,236 52.6%

Pollution Prevention $5,685 $4,922 $5,039 $117 2.1%

Sector Program (Enf & Comp Assurance) $1,879 $0 $0 $0 0.0%

Tribal General Assistance Program $69,331 $67,631 $96,375 $28,744 41.5%

$86,846 $82,517 $116,614 $34,097 41.3%

Total Categorical Grants $1,204,790 $1,088,813 $1,202,432 $113,619 10.4%

NOTES: Totals may not add due to rounding.

 * Actuals refer to Actual Obligations

95
96
 Categorical Grants 

Categorical Grants Program (STAG)

(Dollars in millions)

*Does not account for rescissions or cancellations. 

*EN – Enacted, PB – President’s Budget 

Categorical Grants 

In FY 2013, the EPA requests a total of $1.202 billion for 17 “categorical” program 

grants for state, interstate organizations, non-profit organizations, intertribal consortia, 

and tribal governments. The EPA will continue to pursue its strategy of building and 

supporting state, local, and tribal capacity to implement, operate, and enforce the 

nation’s environmental laws. Most environmental laws envision establishment of a 

decentralized nationwide structure to protect public health and the environment. In this 

way, environmental goals will ultimately be achieved through the actions, programs, and 

commitments of state, tribal, and local governments, organizations, and citizens. 

Also, to strengthen grants management, the EPA, working with the states, has issued a 

new policy that replaces the State Grant Performance Measures Template. The policy is 

intended to 1) enhance accountability for achieving grant performance objectives; 2) 

ensure that State grants are aligned with the Agency’s Strategic Plan; and 3) provide for 

more consistent performance reporting. To achieve those objectives, the policy requires 

that state categorical grant workplans and associated progress reports prominently 

display three “Essential Elements: the EPA Strategic Plan Goal; the EPA Strategic Plan 

Objective; and workplan commitments plus time frame. Regions and states will begin to 

transition to the new policy in FY 2012 with the goal of 100% compliance for all grants 

awarded on or after October 1, 2012. 

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

2003 

EN

2004 

EN

2005 

EN

2006 

EN

2007 

EN

2008 

EN

2009 

EN

2010 

EN

2011 

EN

2012 

EN

2013 

PB

$1,143 $1,168 $1,137 $1,113 $1,113 $1,078 $1,095 $1,116 $1,104 $1,089 $1,202 

97
Categorical Grants 

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to offer flexibility to state and tribal governments to 

manage their environmental programs as well as provide technical and financial 

assistance to achieve mutual environmental goals. First, the EPA and its state and tribal 

partners will continue implementing the National Environmental Performance 

Partnership System (NEPPS). NEPPS is designed to allow states more flexibility to 

operate their programs, while increasing emphasis on measuring and reporting 

environmental improvements. Second, Performance Partnership Grants (PPGs) will 

continue to allow states and tribes funding flexibility to combine categorical program 

grants to address environmental priorities. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

State & Local Air Quality Management, Radon, and Tribal Air Quality 

Management Grants 

The FY 2013 request includes $315.1 million for grants to support state, local, and tribal 

air management programs, an increase of $66.1 million. Grant funds for State and Local 

Air Quality Management and Tribal Air Quality Management are requested in the 

amounts of $301.5 million and $13.6 million, respectively. These funds provide 

resources to multi-state, state, local, and tribal air pollution control agencies for the 

development and implementation of programs for the prevention and control of air 

pollution and for the implementation of National Ambient Air Quality Standards 

(NAAQS) set to protect public health and the environment. In FY 2013, the EPA will 

continue to work with state and local air pollution control agencies to develop or 

implement state implementation plans (SIPs) for NAAQS (including the 8-hour ozone 

standard, the fine particle (PM-2.5) standard, the lead standard) and also for regional 

haze. In addition, the EPA will continue support of state and local operation of the 27-

site National Air Toxics Trends Stations network. In FY 2013, states with approved or 

delegated permitting programs will continue to implement new greenhouse gas 

requirements as part of their permitting programs. 

The EPA will work with federally-recognized tribal governments nationwide to continue 

development and implementation of tribal air quality management programs. Tribes are 

active in protection of air quality for the 4 percent of the land mass of the United States 

over which they have sovereignty and work closely with the EPA to monitor and report 

air quality information from over 300 monitors. Lastly, the FY 2013 budget eliminates 

funding for the State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) program. Although the radon program 

continues to be important to protect human health, over the course of the 23 years the 

EPA has provided SIRG funding, the EPA has successfully supported states in 

establishing their own programs, which can continue radon protection efforts without 

SIRG. 

98
 Categorical Grants 

Water Pollution Control (Clean Water Act Section 106) Grants 

The FY 2013 EPA request includes $265.3 million for Water Pollution Control grants. 

The $26.9 million increase will strengthen the state, interstate and tribal programs, 

address water quality issues such as nutrients and new program requirements, and 

support expanded water monitoring and enforcement efforts. In FY 2013, the EPA will 

designate $15.0 million of the additional funds for states that commit to strengthening 

their nutrient management efforts consistent with EPA Office of Water guidance issued 

in March 2011. These water quality programs assist state and tribal efforts to restore 

and maintain the quality of the nation’s water quality standards, improving water quality 

monitoring and assessment, implementing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and 

other watershed-related plans, strengthening the National Pollutant Discharge 

Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, implementing practices to reduce 

pollution from all nonpoint sources, and supporting sustainable water infrastructure. The 

EPA will work with states to implement the rules governing discharges from 

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and will continue to revise the 

stormwater regulations to better protect the nation’s waters from stormwater discharges. 

The EPA intends to propose more protective standards on discharges from newly 

developed and redeveloped sites. States and authorized tribes will continue to review 

and update their water quality standards as required by the Clean Water Act. The EPA 

encourages states to continually review and update the water quality criteria in their 

standards to reflect the latest scientific information from the EPA and other sources. The 

EPA’s goal for FY 2013 is that 64.3 percent of states will have updated their standards 

to reflect the latest scientific information in the past three years. In FY 2013, $18.5 

million will be designated for states and tribes that participate in collecting statistically 

valid water monitoring data and implement enhancements in their water monitoring 

programs. 

Wetlands Grants 

In FY 2013, the request includes $15.2 million for Wetlands Program grants, which 

provide technical and financial assistance to the states, tribes, and local governments. 

These grants support development of state and tribal wetland programs that further the 

national goal of an overall increase in the acreage and condition of wetlands. The 

Wetland Program Development Grants are the EPA’s primary resource for supporting 

state and Tribal wetland program development. Grants are used to develop new or 

refine existing state and Tribal wetland programs in one or more of the following areas: 

(1) monitoring and assessment; (2) voluntary restoration and protection; (3) regulatory 

programs including Section 401 certification; and (4) wetland water quality standards. 

Public Water System Supervision Grants 

In FY 2013, the EPA requests $109.7 million for Public Water System Supervision 

(PWSS) grants. These grants provide assistance to implement and enforce National 

Primary Drinking Water Regulations to ensure the safety of the Nation's drinking water 

resources and to protect public health. In FY 2013, the EPA is requesting a $4 million 

99
Categorical Grants 

increase to support state data management, improve data quality, and enable states to 

more efficiently receive drinking water data, thereby improving program management. 

The EPA will use the funding for associated program support costs or in-kind assistance 

for the benefit of states in replacing the EPA developed, state operated Safe Drinking 

Water Information System/State Version (SDWIS/State). This should reduce the need 

for state resources to maintain individual compliance databases, enabling increased 

resources towards providing compliance assistance. 

Underground Injection Control (UIC) Grants 

In FY 2013, the EPA requests $11.1 million for the Underground Injection Control grants 

program. Ensuring safe underground injection of waste materials and other fluids is a 

main component of a comprehensive source water protection program. Grants are 

provided to states that have primary enforcement authority (primacy) to implement and 

maintain UIC programs. In December 2010, a rule was finalized which established a 

new class of underground injection well—Class VI—with new federal requirements to 

allow the injection of CO2 for the purpose of Geologic Sequestration (GS). On 

September 15, 2011, the EPA published a notice in the Federal Register indicating that 

the EPA will implement the Class VI GS program as no state has applied for, or 

received, approval for Class VI primacy either through a state UIC program revision, or 

a new application from states without any UIC primary enforcement authority. 

Therefore, in FY 2013, until states receive Class VI primacy approval, the EPA will 

continue to carry out regulatory functions for Class VI GS wells along with other classes 

of wells for which the EPA has direct implementation responsibility. The EPA will 

continue to process primacy applications and permit applications for carbon 

sequestration projects related to Class VI wells. States and the EPA also will process 

Underground Injection Control permits for other nontraditional injection streams such as 

desalination brines and treated waters injected for storage to be recovered at a later 

time. In addition, within the resources available, the EPA (where the EPA directly 

implements) will implement guidance on permitting under UIC where diesel fuels are 

used. 

Non-Point Source Program Grants (NPS – Clean Water Act Section 319) 

In FY 2013, the EPA requests $164.8 million for Nonpoint Source Program grants to 

states, territories, and tribes. These grants enable states to use a range of tools to 

implement their programs including: both non-regulatory and regulatory programs, 

technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training, technology transfer, and 

demonstration projects. The request also eliminates the statutory one-third of onepercent cap on Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution grants that may 

be awarded to tribes. In 2013, the EPA and the USDA will work collaboratively to select 

and target efforts in high priority watersheds to address agricultural nonpoint source 

pollution, with a particular emphasis on watersheds in the Mississippi River Basin. The 

goal of our collaboration is to better protect water resources from nonpoint sources of 

pollution, including nitrogen and phosphorus. In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to 

implement program reforms and accountability. 

100
 Categorical Grants 

For FY 2013, EPA also will issue new grant guidance that will require States to update 

their nonpoint source management plans, implement monitoring in selected high priority 

watersheds, and other changes to better address nonpoint source pollution.

Tribal General Assistance Program Grants 

In FY 2013, the EPA requests $96.4 million in GAP grants, an increase of $28.7 million, 

to provide tribes with a stronger foundation to build their capacity to address 

environmental issues on Indian lands. It will further the EPA’s partnership and 

collaboration with tribes to address a wider set of program responsibilities and 

challenges. The grants will assist tribal governments in building environmental capacity 

to assess environmental conditions, utilize available federal and other information, and 

build and administer environmental programs tailored to their needs. This additional 

funding will increase the average cost of grants made to eligible tribes and will fund 

limited targeted assistance initiatives focused on mutually agreed-upon concerns in 

Indian country. 

Pesticide Enforcement and Toxics Substances Compliance Grants

The FY 2013 request includes $24.3 million to build environmental enforcement 

partnerships with states and tribes and to strengthen their ability to address 

environmental and public health threats. The enforcement state grants request consists 

of $19.1 million for Pesticides Enforcement and $5.2 million for Toxic Substances 

Compliance Grants. The Toxic Substance Compliance Grants protect the public and the 

environment from PCBs, asbestos, and lead-based paint. State and tribal enforcement 

grants will be awarded to assist in the implementation of compliance and enforcement 

provisions of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, 

Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). These grants support state and tribal 

compliance activities to protect the environment from harmful chemicals and pesticides. 

Under the Pesticides Enforcement Grant program, the EPA provides resources to states 

and Indian tribes to conduct FIFRA compliance inspections and take appropriate 

enforcement actions and implement programs for farm worker protection. The program 

also sponsors training for state and tribal inspectors through the Pesticide Inspector 

Residential Program (PIRT) and for state and tribal managers through the Pesticide 

Regulatory Education Program (PREP). Under the Toxic Substances Compliance Grant 

program, “non-waiver” states inspect on behalf of the EPA and receive funding for 

compliance inspections of asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and "waiver" 

states inspect under their own regulations and receive funding for compliance 

inspections and enforcement of the asbestos program. States also receive funding for 

implementation of the state lead-based paint certification and training, abatement 

notification and work practice standards compliance and enforcement program. The 

funds will complement other Federal program grants for building state capacity for lead 

abatement, and enhancing compliance with disclosure, certification, and training 

requirements. 

101
Categorical Grants 

Pesticides Program Implementation Grants 

The FY 2013 request includes $13.1 million for Pesticides Program Implementation 

grants. These resources will assist states, tribes, and partners with pesticide worker 

safety activities, protection of endangered species and water sources, and promotion of 

environmental stewardship approaches to pesticide use. The EPA’s mission as related 

to pesticides is to protect human health and the environment from pesticide risk and to 

realize the value of pesticide availability by considering the economic, social, and 

environmental costs and benefits of the use of pesticides. Pesticides Program 

Implementation Grants help state programs stay current with changing requirements.

Lead Grants 

The FY 2013 request includes $14.9 million for lead grants. This funding will provide 

assistance to states, territories, the District of Columbia, and tribes to develop and 

implement authorized programs for the lead-based paint abatement program to operate 

in lieu of the federal program. Additionally, the program will provide support to those 

entities to develop and implement authorized Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) 

Programs. The EPA implements these programs in all areas of the country that are not 

authorized to do so. Activities conducted as part of this program include accrediting 

training programs, certifying individuals and firms, and providing education and 

compliance assistance to those subject to the abatement and RRP regulations and the 

general public 

The EPA recognizes that additional attention and assistance must be given to 

vulnerable populations including those with rates of lead poisoning in excess of the 

national average. In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to award Targeted Grants to 

Reduce Childhood Lead Poisoning. These grants are available to a wide range of 

applicants, including state and local governments, Federally-recognized Indian tribes 

and intertribal consortia, territories, institutions of higher learning, and nonprofit 

organizations. Funding in this program also is used to track the disparities in blood lead 

levels between low-income children and non-low-income children. The program uses 

the data collected to track progress toward eliminating childhood lead poisoning in these 

vulnerable populations. 

Pollution Prevention Grants 

The FY 2013 request includes $5.0 million for Pollution Prevention grants. The program 

provides grant funds to deliver technical assistance to. The goal is to assist businesses 

and industries with identifying improved environmental strategies and solutions for 

reducing waste at the source. The program demonstrates that source reduction can be 

a cost-effective way of meeting or exceeding Federal and state regulatory requirements. 

In FY 2013, the EPA is targeting a reduction of 1.0 billion pounds of hazardous 

materials, saving $738 million, conserving 24.8 billion gallons of water, and reducing 4.2 

million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. 

102
 Categorical Grants 

Environmental Information Grants 

In FY 2013, the EPA requests $15.2 million for the Environmental Information Exchange 

Network (EN) grant program. These resources will help states establish and expand 

data systems and networks to support the exchange of regulatory, compliance, and 

non-regulatory data between the EPA and its state, tribal, and territorial partners and 

among its partners. The request level will enable partners to complete development 

work for reporting to priority data systems, expand the Network to include other Agency 

data systems, develop services to support EPA, co-regulator and public access to data, 

and develop and maintain shared tools and services. Grant funding will support multipartner projects to plan, mentor and train EN partners and develop and exchange data. 

In addition, funding will expand Tribal participation in the EN and continue to leverage 

grant resources by funding Tribal partnerships that seek to build the information 

management capacity and fund Tribal data exchanges using cloud-based nodes. In FY 

2013, an additional $5 million in funding for Environmental Information grants will help 

expand electronic reporting by adapting, installing and implementing a suite of data 

collection and publishing services. The EPA will target these additional resources 

toward states that do not yet have the capabilities to comply with e-reporting 

requirements under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. 

State and Tribal Underground Storage Tanks Program 

The FY 2013 request includes $1.5 million for Underground Storage Tank (UST) grants. 

In FY 2012, the EPA will make grants to states under Section 2007 of the Solid Waste 

Disposal Act, available to support core program activities as well as the leak prevention 

activities under Title XV, Subtitle B of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). 

In FY 2013, the EPA will continue to focus attention on the need to bring all UST 

systems into compliance with release detection and release prevention requirements 

and continue to implement the provisions of the EPAct. States will continue to use the 

UST categorical grant funding to implement their leak prevention and detection 

programs. Specifically, with these UST categorical grants, states will fund such activities 

as: seeking state program approval to operate the UST program in lieu of the Federal 

program, approving specific technologies to detect leaks from tanks, ensuring that tank 

owners and operators are complying with notification and other requirements, ensuring 

equipment compatibility, conducting inspections, and implementing operator training. 

Hazardous Waste Financial Assistance Grants 

In FY 2013, the EPA requests $103.4 million for Hazardous Waste Financial Assistance 

grants. Hazardous Waste Financial Assistance grants are used for the implementation 

of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste program, 

which includes permitting, authorization, waste minimization, enforcement, and 

corrective action activities. In FY 2013, the EPA expects to increase the number of 

103
Categorical Grants 

hazardous waste facilities with new or updated controls to prevent releases by 100 

facilities. 

 

By the end of FY 2013, the EPA and the authorized states also will control human 

exposures to contamination at 85 percent of the 2020 universe of 3,747 facilities that 

may need cleanup under the RCRA Corrective Action Program. The EPA also will 

control migration of contaminated groundwater at 73 percent of these facilities and 

complete the construction of final remedies at 51 percent of these facilities. 

Brownfields Grants 

In FY 2013, the EPA requests $47.6 million for the Brownfields grant program that 

provides assistance to states and tribes to develop and enhance their state and Tribal 

Brownfields response programs. This funding will help states and tribes develop 

legislation, regulations, procedures, and guidance, to establish or enhance the 

administrative and legal structure of their response programs. 

104
SRF Obligations by State

Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Resources 

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Resources 

State-by-State distribution of Actual and Estimated Obligations 

Fiscal Years 2011 to 2013 – Dollars in Thousands

The following tables show state-by-state distribution of resources for EPA’s two largest 

State and Tribal Grant Programs, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the 

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. These tables do not reflect total resources that 

EPA provides to individual states. 

105
SRF Obligations by State

Infrastructure Assistance: 

Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)

(Dollars in Thousands) 

FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013

STATE

ACT. 

OBLIG.

EST. 

OBLIG.

EST. 

OBLIG.

Alabama $167.0 $16,132.0 $12,876.0

Alaska $8,927.0 $8,601.0 $6,892.0

American Samoa $8,065.0 $7,786.0 $6,238.0

Arizona $16,181.7 $9,707.0 $7,778.0

Arkansas $9,757.0 $9,401.0 $7,533.0

California $110,411.7 $102,398.0 $82,356.0

Colorado $12,508.5 $11,496.0 $9,211.0

Connecticut $25,150.4 $17,606.0 $14,107.0

Delaware $7,340.1 $7,055.0 $5,653.0

District of Columbia $24,448.3 $7,055.0 $5,653.0

Florida $50,439.6 $48,511.0 $38,869.0

Georgia $25,251.5 $24,299.0 $19,469.0

Guam $7,316.6 $5,634.0 $4,514.0

Hawaii $27,492.0 $11,131.0 $8,918.0

Idaho $7,322.0 $7,055.0 $5,653.0

Illinois $66,784.0 $64,612.0 $52,079.0

Indiana $36,287.8 $34,635.0 $27,751.0

Iowa $27,756.3 $19,527.0 $15,585.0

Kansas $31,890.9 $12,972.0 $10,394.0

Kentucky $44,916.0 $18,291.0 $14,656.0

Louisiana $22,562.0 $15,861.0 $12,659.0

Maine $11,546.5 $11,125.0 $8,914.0

Maryland $36,075.0 $34,759.0 $27,850.0

Massachusetts $50,642.0 $48,794.0 $39,096.0

Michigan $151,743.0 $61,794.0 $49,513.0

Minnesota $27,415.1 $26,414.0 $21,165.0

Mississippi $13,438.0 $12,948.0 $10,375.0

Missouri $56,483.0 $40,804.0 $31,922.0

Montana $10,322.0 $7,055.0 $5,653.0

Nebraska $7,629.0 $7,351.0 $5,890.0

Nevada $7,322.0 $7,055.0 $5,653.0

New Hampshire $35,267.0 $14,362.0 $11,507.0

New Jersey $60,342.0 $58,728.0 $47,056.0

New Mexico $13,811.0 $7,055.0 $5,653.0

New York $168,656.5 $158,242.0 $127,099.0

North Carolina $670.8 $25,937.0 $20,782.0

North Dakota $10,103.0 $7,056.0 $5,653.0

Northern Mariana Islands $3774.4 $3,619.0 $2,899.0

Ohio $199,830.0 $80,520.0 $64,825.0

Oklahoma $14,332.0 $11,611.0 $9,303.0

Oregon $16,850.0 $16,235.0 $13,008.0

Pennsylvania $59,159.4 $56,927.0 $45,613.0

Puerto Rico $27,957.6 $19,198.0 $15,019.0

Rhode Island $10,015.0 $9,650.0 $7,732.0

South Carolina $21,046.4 $14,780.0 $11,797.0

South Dakota $7,322.0 $7,055.0 $5,653.0

Tennessee $21,668.0 $20,877.0 $16,728.0

Texas $68,174.8 $65,301.0 $52,631.0

Utah $7,859.0 $7,572.0 $6,067.0

Vermont $7,322.0 $7,055.0 $5,653.0

Virgin Islands, U.S. $6,606 $4,614.0 $3,621.0

Virginia $30,584.2 $29,412.0 $23,566.0

Washington $25,939.0 $24,992.0 $20,025.0

West Virginia $23,658.3 $22,403.0 $17,951.0

Wisconsin $55,486.0 $39,007.0 $31,131.0

Wyoming $7,322.0 $7,055.0 $5,653.0

Tribal Resources $16,556.3 $29,329.0 $23,500.0

Undistributed National Resources $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

TOTAL: $1,863,903.7 $1,466,456.0 $1,175,000.0

Notes: Estimated Obligations are based on the FY 2012 Enacted Budget and the FY 2013 President’s Budget. 

 FY 2012 estimates do not reflect proposed $10 million rescission.

106
SRF Obligations by State

Infrastructure Assistance:

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)

(Dollars in Thousands)

FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013

STATE

ACT. 

OBLIG.

EST. 

OBLIG.

EST. 

OBLIG.

Alabama $0.0 $11,190.0 $10,300.0

Alaska $9,418.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

American Samoa $1,404 $1,360.0 $1,259.0

Arizona $21,969.6 $18,025.0 $16,689.0

Arkansas $20,539.0 $13,582.0 $12,575.0

California $87,586.8 $83,012.0 $77,739.0

Colorado $16,439.0 $15,919.0 $14,739.0

Connecticut $13,573.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Delaware $22,841.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

District of Columbia $18,234.5 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Florida $75,067.0 $28,361.0 $27,133.0

Georgia $0.0 $26,911.0 $19,636.0

Guam $7,174.7 $3,398.0 $3,146.0

Hawaii $22,841.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Idaho $9,418.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Illinois $35,644.0 $32,934.0 $31,366.0

Indiana $15,709.0 $14,970.0 $13,860.0

Iowa $23,169.0 $15,321.0 $14,185.0

Kansas $28,127.0 $10,981.0 $10,167.0

Kentucky $32,971.0 $12,956.0 $11,996.0

Louisiana $7,695.0 $16,961.0 $15,704.0

Maine $9,268.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Maryland $20,065.9 $13,926.0 $12,893.0

Massachusetts $17,278.0 $16,732.0 $15,492.0

Michigan $28,703.0 $26,319.0 $25,242.0

Minnesota $0.0 $15,062.0 $13,945.0

Mississippi $0.0 $9,697.0 $8,648.0

Missouri $26,234.0 $17,348.0 $16,062.0

Montana $9,268.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Nebraska $9,418.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Nevada $9,268.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

New Hampshire $22,841.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

New Jersey $20,120.0 $18,230.0 $17,752.0

New Mexico $18,560.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

New York $62,099.1 $58,193.0 $54,753.0

North Carolina $35,593.0 $23,537.0 $21,792.0

North Dakota $13,573.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Northern Mariana Islands $4,250.9 $4,066.0 $3,764.0

Ohio $89,194.0 $27,895.0 $26,701.0

Oklahoma $11,570.9 $10,208.0 $10,325.0

Oregon $9,418.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Pennsylvania $27,154.0 $25,352.0 $24,347.0

Puerto Rico $13,573.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Rhode Island $13,573.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

South Carolina $13,573.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

South Dakota $9,268.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Tennessee $10,300.0 $9,975.0 $9,235.0

Texas $0.0 $57,038.0 $52,810.0

Utah $9,268.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Vermont $13,573.0 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Virgin Islands, U.S. $7,851.0 $4,640.0 $4,296.0

Virginia $15,711.0 $15,215.0 $14,087.0

Washington $24,044.0 $21,970.0 $21,215.0

West Virginia $9,596.6 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Wisconsin $23,399.0 $18,789.0 $14,327.0

Wyoming $10,420.9 $8,976.0 $8,310.0

Tribal Resources $13,979.9 $18,358.0 $17,000.0

Undistributed National Resources $924.0 $2,000.0 $2,000.0

TOTAL: $1,102,751.8 $917,893.0 $850,000.0

Notes: Estimated Obligations are based on the FY 2012 Enacted Budget and the FY 2013 President’s Budget.

 FY 2012 Estimated Obligations do not add due to rounding.

107
108
Infrastructure Financing

Infrastructure / STAG Project Financing

(Dollars in Thousands)

Type / Grant

FY 2011 

Enacted

FY 2012 

Enacted

FY 2013 

PresBud

Delta

FY 13 PB – 

FY 12 EN

 Clean Water State Revolving Fund $1,521,950 $1,466,456 $1,175,000 -$291,456

 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund $963,070 $917,892 $850,000 -$67,892

State Revolving Funds $2,485,020 $2,384,348 $2,025,000 -$359,348

 Mexico Border $9,980 $4,992 $10,000 $5,008

 Alaska Native Villages $9,980 $9,984 $10,000 $16

Special Needs Projects $19,960 $14,976 $20,000 $5,024

Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant 

Program $49,900 $29,952 $15,000 -$14,952

Brownfields Projects $99,800 $94,848 $93,291 -$1,557

Infrastructure Assistance Total $2,654,680 $2,524,124 $2,153,291 -$370,833

Infrastructure and Special Projects Funds

The FY 2013 President’s Budget includes a total of $2.2 billion for the EPA’s 

Infrastructure programs in the State and Tribal Assistance Grant (STAG) account. This 

budget continues funding for the SRFs at $2.0 billion.

Infrastructure and targeted projects funding under the STAG appropriation provides 

financial assistance to states, municipalities, interstates, and tribal governments to fund 

a variety of drinking water, wastewater, air, and brownfields environmental projects.

These funds help fulfill the federal government’s commitment to help our state, tribal 

and local partners obtain adequate funding to construct the facilities required to comply 

with federal environmental requirements and ensure public health and revitalize 

contaminated properties.

Providing STAG funds to capitalize State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, the EPA

works in partnership with the states to provide low-cost loans to municipalities for 

infrastructure construction. All drinking water and wastewater projects are funded based 

on state developed priority lists. Through SRF set-asides, grants are available to Indian 

tribes and U.S. territories for infrastructure projects. 

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Infrastructure Financing

The resources included in this budget will enable the Agency, in conjunction with the 

EPA’s state, local, and tribal partners, to achieve important goals for FY 2013. For 

example: 92 percent of the population served by community water systems will receive 

drinking water meeting all health-based standards. 

Capitalizing Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds 

The Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs demonstrate a 

true partnership between states, localities, and the federal government. These 

programs provide federal financial assistance to protect the nation’s water resources by 

providing funds for the construction of drinking water and wastewater treatment 

facilities. The state revolving funds are two important elements of the nation’s 

substantial investment in sewage treatment and drinking water systems, which provides 

Americans with significant benefits in the form of reduced water pollution and safe 

drinking water.

The EPA will continue to provide financial assistance for wastewater and other water 

projects through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). CWSRF projects 

include nonpoint source, estuary, stormwater, and sewer overflow projects. The 

dramatic progress made in improving the quality of wastewater treatment since the 

1970s is a national success. In 1972, only 84 million people were served by secondary 

or advanced wastewater treatment facilities. As of 2008 (from most recent Clean 

Watersheds Needs Survey), over 99 percent of community wastewater treatment 

plants, serving 222.6 million people, use secondary treatment or better. Water 

infrastructure projects supported by the program contribute to direct ecosystem 

improvements by lowering the amount of nutrients and toxic pollutants in all types of 

surface waters. While great progress has been made, many rivers, lakes and 

ocean/coastal areas still suffer an significant influx of pollutants after heavy rains 

resulting in beach closures, infected fish, and degradation of the ability of watersheds to 

sustain a healthy ecosystem. 

The FY 2013 request includes $1.2 billion in funding for the CWSRF. Approximately 

$36.3 billion has been appropriated as of FY 2011 to capitalize the CWSRF. Total 

CWSRF funding available for loans from 1988 through June 2008 exceeds $89.5 billion. 

This total reflects loan repayments, state match dollars, as well as other funding 

sources. The EPA estimates that for every federal dollar contributed, more than two 

dollars are provided to municipalities.

Since its inception in 1997, the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program 

has made $24.14 billion available to finance 9,031 infrastructure improvement projects 

nationwide, with an average of $1.77 made available to localities for every $1 of federal 

funds invested. As of June 30, 2011, $13.7 billion in capitalization grants have been 

awarded, amounting to loans/assistance of $21.7 billion. The DWSRF helps address the 

costs of ensuring safe drinking water supplies and assists small communities in meeting 

their responsibilities.

 

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Infrastructure Financing

EPA will work to target assistance to small and underserved communities with limited 

ability to repay loans, while maintaining state program integrity. A number of systems 

could have access to capital through the Administration’s proposed Infrastructure Bank. 

For FY 2013, the EPA requests not more than 30 percent of the CWSRF funds be made 

available to each state to be used to provide additional subsidy to eligible recipients in 

the form of forgiveness of principle, negative interest loans, or grants (or a combination 

of these). This provision would only apply to the portion of the appropriation that 

exceeds $1 billion. Similarly, as outlined in Section 1452(d)(2) of the SDWA, up to 30 

percent of a state’s Drinking Water capitalization grant may be used for subsidization.

For FY 2013, the EPA will encourage states to utilize the subsidy to assist small 

drinking water systems with standards compliance. The EPA also is requesting, to the 

extent there are sufficient eligible project applications, that not less than 20 percent of a 

portion of a CWSRF capitalization grant and 10 percent of a portion of a DWSRF grant 

be made available for projects, or portion of projects, that include green infrastructure, 

water or energy efficiency improvements, or other environmentally innovative activities.

As part of the Administration’s long-term strategy, the EPA is implementing a 

Sustainable Water Infrastructure Policy that focuses on working with states and 

communities to enhance technical, managerial, and financial capacity. Important to the 

technical capacity will be enhancing alternatives analysis to expand "green 

infrastructure" options and their multiple benefits. Federal dollars provided through the 

SRFs will act as a catalyst for efficient system-wide planning and ongoing management 

of sustainable water infrastructure. Overall, the Administration requests a combined 

$2.0 billion for the SRFs.

Set-Asides for Tribes and Territories

To improve public health and water quality on tribal lands, the Agency is requesting 

increases to the tribal set asides in the CWSRF and DWSRF from 1.5 percent to up to 2 

percent. The EPA also is requesting an increase to the SRF set aside for territories from 

0.25 percent to up to 1.5 percent for the CWSRF and from 0.33 percent for the DWSRF 

to up to 1.5 percent. 

Alaska Native Villages

The President’s Budget requests $10 million for Alaska native villages for the 

construction of wastewater and drinking water facilities to address serious sanitation 

problems. The EPA will continue to work with the Department of Health and Human 

Services’ Indian Health Service, the State of Alaska, the Alaska Native Tribal Health 

Council, and local communities to provide needed financial and technical assistance.

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Infrastructure Financing

Diesel Emission Reduction Grants

The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) authorizes a grant program that provides 

immediate, cost-effective emission reductions from existing diesel engines through 

engine retrofits, rebuilds and replacements; switching to cleaner fuels; idling reduction 

strategies; and other clean diesel strategies. Retrofitting or replacing diesel engines 

reduces particulate matter (PM) emissions up to 95 percent, smog-forming emissions, 

such as hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxide (NOx), up to 90 percent, and 

greenhouse gases up to 20 percent in the upgraded vehicles.

The FY 2013 budget includes a new approach designed to transition the program away 

from ongoing Federal support. The modified funding strategy will use rebates and 

revolving loan funds to concentrate resources on communities in a limited set of high 

exposure areas such as near ports and freight distribution hubs. Through the rebate 

mechanism, the Agency would be able to more efficiently target the awards toward the 

dirtiest, most polluting engines. 

The federal monies spent under the $15 million request would be split into two 

categories. The first category would allocate funds to a new rebate program established 

under DERA's reauthorization. The second component would allocate funds towards 

national low-cost revolving loans or other financing programs that help fleets reduce 

diesel emissions. Both approaches would be available to private fleets for the first time.

Upon awarding these funds in FY 2013, funding for DERA grants would be phased out.

Brownfields Projects 

The President’s Budget requests $93 million for Brownfields projects. With the FY 2013 

request, the EPA plans to fund an estimated 155 assessment cooperative agreements 

and 56 direct cleanup cooperative agreements. The EPA also will support cleanup of 

approximately 45 sites contaminated by petroleum or petroleum products and award an 

estimated $3 million in environmental workforce development and job training grants. In 

FY 2013, the funding provided is expected to result in the assessment of 1,200 

brownfields properties. Using EPA grant dollars, the brownfields grantees will leverage 

5,000 cleanup and redevelopment jobs and $1.2 billion in cleanup and redevelopment 

funding.

During FY 2013, the Brownfields program will continue to support the Agency’s ongoing 

brownfields area-wide planning efforts. The cooperative agreements and technical 

assistance provided for brownfields area-wide planning helps communities identify 

viable reuses of brownfields properties, as well as associated infrastructure investments 

and environmental improvements needed, which will help lead to site cleanup and area 

revitalization. 

In FY 2013, the Agency will redirect $150 thousand to Community Action for a Renewed 

Environment (CARE). These resources will support the application of CARE principles 

as they interact with brownfields area-wide planning projects and support sustainable 

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Infrastructure Financing

redevelopment approaches on brownfields. The EPA will continue to provide technical 

assistance for brownfields redevelopment in cities in transition which are struggling with 

high unemployment as a result of structural changes to their economies. In addition, the 

Brownfields program will continue to work closely with the EPA's Sustainable 

Communities program to address critical issues for brownfields redevelopment, 

including land assembly, development permitting issues, financing, accountability to 

uniform systems of information for land use controls, greener development practices, 

and other factors that influence the economic viability of brownfields redevelopment. 

The best practices, tools, and lessons learned from the Sustainable Communities 

program will directly inform and assist the EPA's efforts to increase area-wide planning 

for assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of brownfields sites. In FY 2013, the 

Brownfields program will continue to foster federal, state, local, and public/private 

partnerships to return properties to productive economic use in communities. The 

Brownfields projects funding also supports participation in the Administration-wide 

initiative, the America’s Great Outdoors (AGO), by promoting the planning of urban 

parks and greenways on once abandoned or scarred lands.

Mexico Border

The President’s Budget requests a total of $10 million for water infrastructure projects 

along the U.S.-Mexico Border. The goal of this program is to reduce environmental and 

human health risks along the U.S.-Mexico Border. The EPA’s U.S.-Mexico Border 

program provides funds to support the planning, design, and construction of high priority 

water and wastewater treatment projects along the border. The Agency’s goal is to 

provide protection to people in the U.S.-Mexico border area from health risks by 

connecting homes to potable water supply and wastewater collection and treatment 

systems. 

113
114
Trust Funds 

Trust Funds

(Dollars in Millions)

FY 2011

Enacted 

Budget1

FY 2012

Enacted 

Budget1

FY 2013

President’s 

Budget1

Trust Funds Program $ FTE $ FTE $ FTE

Superfund2 $1,244 3,030 $1,181 2,961 $1,142 2,906

Inspector General (Transfers) $10 66 $10 65 $11 66

Research & Development 

(Transfers) $27 108 $23 105 $23 106

Superfund Total $1,281 3,203 $1,214 3,132 $1,176 3,079

Base Realignment and Closure3 $0 29 $0 28 $0 26

LUST4 $113 74 $104 70 $104 68

Trust Funds Total5: $1,394 3,306 $1,318 3,230 $1,281 3,172

1 Totals may not add due to rounding. 2. FTE numbers include all direct and reimbursable Superfund employees, excluding Base Realignment 

and Closure which is discussed below.

3 Funding for reimbursable FTE provided by the Department of Defense via an Interagency Agreement. 4 EPAct Grants for Prevention activities are included in the FY 2011 Enacted, FY 2012 Enacted, and FY 

2013 President’s Budget.

5 Trust Funds Total includes reimbursable FTE for Base Realignment and Closure as well as other 

Superfund reimbursable FTE.

Superfund

In FY 2013, the President’s Budget requests a total of $1,176 million in discretionary 

budget authority and 3,079 FTE for Superfund. This funding level will address 

environmental and public health risks resulting from releases or threatened releases of 

hazardous substances associated with any emergency site, as well as the over 13,700

active Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) and non-NPL sites. It also provides 

funding to pursue responsible parties for cleanup costs, preserving federal dollars for 

sites where there are no viable contributing parties. As of the end of FY 2011, there are 

1,652 sites on the NPL. 1123 sites (68 percent) are construction completed or are 

deleted, 319 sites (19 percent) are undergoing cleanup construction, 210 sites (13

percent) are pending investigation or being investigated. The EPA will continue to give 

attention to all phases of the investigation and cleanup of NPL and Non-NPL sites, 

including post-construction completion activities to ensure that Superfund response 

actions provide for the long-term protection of human health and the environment. A 

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Trust Funds 

significant statutorily required post-construction activity is a Five-Year Review1, which 

generally is necessary when hazardous substances remain on-site above levels that 

permit unrestricted use and unlimited exposure. In FY 2013, the EPA plans to conduct 

over 200 Five-Year Reviews.

Of the total funding requested for Superfund, $755 million and 1,412 FTE are for 

Superfund cleanups which include the Superfund Remedial, Emergency Response and 

Removal, EPA Emergency Preparedness, and Federal Facilities programs. The 

Superfund program protects the American public and its resources by cleaning up sites 

which pose an imminent or long term risk of exposure and harm to human health and 

the environment. In FY 2013, the Agency will maintain the funding level necessary to 

respond to emergency releases of hazardous substances, but, in recognition of budget 

constraints, will downsize the Superfund Remedial program including site assessment, 

remedial investigation/feasibility studies, remedial designs, remedial action, and postconstruction operations. As a result, the number of sites assessed, site-wide 

construction completions, sites ready for anticipated use, and remedial action project 

completions will also be reduced. The EPA and its partners will focus on completing 

construction activities at 19 site wide construction completions as well as 115 individual 

project completions by the end of FY 2013, while also maintaining the level of sites 

achieving human exposure and groundwater migration under control. Due to program 

reductions in FY 2012 and FY 2013, the Agency will place a priority on completing 

projects at various stages as opposed to starting new project phases.

The Agency works with several federal agencies that provide essential services in areas 

where the Agency does not possess the specialized expertise. Over the last 30 years of 

operations, the relationship between the federal agencies for cleanup activities has 

become more defined and the agencies that received automatic transfers from the EPA 

have developed their own mission-specific funding for the purposes that the EPA had 

previously subsidized. In FY 2013, the Agency is proposing to eliminate the last 

remaining automatic transfers to other federal agencies, including the United States 

Coast Guard (USCG), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

and the Department of the Interior (DOI). The Agency has determined an automatic 

transfer is no longer needed and interagency assistance agreements are more 

appropriate for this activity. Funding for the other federal agencies may be pursued by 

Superfund-related support services, on an as-needed basis. 

Of the total funding requested, $186 million and 989 FTE are for Superfund 

enforcement-related activities. One of the Superfund program’s primary goals is to have 

responsible parties pay for and conduct cleanups at abandoned or uncontrolled 

hazardous waste sites. The Agency focuses on maximizing all aspects of Potentially 

 

1 Five-Year Reviews are used to evaluate the implementation and performance of all components of the 

implemented remedy and to determine whether the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. 

The Five-Year Review includes not only the physical remedy itself, but also institutional controls necessary to 

manage the use of the site. The EPA develops an annual Report to Congress describing the protectiveness of 

remedies as found through Five-Year Reviews including those conducted by federal agencies and reviewed by the 

EPA through the Superfund Federal Facilities Response program.

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Trust Funds 

Responsible Party (PRP) participation; including reaching a settlement with or taking an 

enforcement action by the time of a Remedial Action start at 99 percent of non-federal 

Superfund sites. The Agency has reached a settlement or taken an enforcement action 

on 98 percent or more of non-federal Superfund sites with viable, liable parties since FY 

2010.

CERCLA authorizes the Agency to retain and use funds received pursuant to an 

agreement with a potentially responsible party (PRP) to carry out the purpose of that 

agreement. The EPA retains such funds in special accounts and uses them to finance 

site-specific CERCLA response actions in accordance with the settlement agreement, 

including, but not limited to, investigations, construction and implementation of the 

remedy, post-construction activities, and oversight of PRP’s conducting the cleanup. 

Through the use of special accounts, the EPA pursues its “enforcement first” policy – 

ensuring responsible parties pay for cleanup – so that appropriated resources from the 

Superfund Trust Fund are conserved for sites where no viable or liable PRPs have been 

identified. Because response actions may take many years and the use of special 

account funding is limited by the terms of the settlement agreements, the full use of 

special account funds may also take many years. Since the inception of special 

accounts through the end of FY 2011, the EPA has collected approximately $3.7 billion 

from PRPs and earned approximately $391.4 million in interest. In addition, the EPA 

has transferred over $19.2 million to the Superfund Trust Fund. As of the end of FY 

2011, over $1.9 billion has been disbursed to finance site response actions and over 

$287.0 million has been obligated but not yet disbursed, which is more than 54 percent 

of the cumulative funds available in special accounts. In FY 2011, the EPA increased 

disbursements from special accounts by almost 24 percent compared to FY 2010. Both 

special account resources and appropriated resources are critical to the Superfund 

program.

The EPA’s Homeland Security work is an important component of the Agency’s 

prevention, protection, and response activities. The FY 2013 President’s Budget 

requests $42 million to: maintain its capability to respond effectively to incidents that 

may involve harmful chemical, biological, and radiological substances; operate the 

Environmental Response Laboratory Network (ERLN); maximize the effectiveness of its 

involvement in national security events through pre-deployments of assets such as 

emergency response personnel and field detection equipment; maintain the Emergency 

Management Portal (EMP); and manage, collect, and validate new information for new 

and existing weapons of mass destruction agents as decontamination techniques are 

developed or as other information emerges from the scientific community.

The FY 2013 President’s Budget also includes resources supporting Agency-wide 

resource management and control functions. This includes essential infrastructure, 

contract and grant administration, financial accounting, and other fiscal operations.

In addition, the Agency provides funds for Superfund program research and for auditing.

The President’s Budget requests $23 million and 106 FTE to be transferred to Research 

and Development. Research will enable the EPA’s Superfund program to accelerate 

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Trust Funds 

scientifically defensible and cost-effective decisions for cleanup at complex 

contaminated Superfund sites. The Superfund research program is driven by program 

office needs to reduce the cost of cleaning up Superfund sites, improve the efficiency of 

characterizing and remediating sites, identify effective remediation technologies, and 

reduce the scientific uncertainties for improved decision-making at Superfund sites. The 

President’s Budget also requests $11 million and 66 FTE to be transferred to the 

Inspector General for program auditing.

There are still sites where no viable PRP has been identified and there are many 

activities that the EPA performs that are not otherwise reimbursed. For this reason, the 

FY 2013 Budget supports reinstatement of the Superfund tax. The Superfund tax on 

petroleum, chemical feedstock and corporate environmental income expired in 1995. 

Since the expiration of Superfund tax, Superfund program funding (the “Superfund 

appropriation”) has been largely financed from General Revenue transfers to the 

Superfund Trust Fund, thus burdening the general public with the costs of cleaning up 

hazardous waste sites. Reinstating the Superfund taxes would provide a stable, 

dedicated source of revenue for the Superfund Trust Fund and restore the historic 

nexus that parties who benefit from the manufacture and sale of substances found in 

hazardous waste sites contribute to the cost of cleanup. The reinstated Superfund taxes 

are estimated to generate a revenue level of approximately $1.6 billion beginning in 

January 2013 to more than $2.6 billion annually by 2022. Total tax revenue over the 

period 2013 to 2022 is predicted to be $23.7 billion. The revenues will be placed in the 

Superfund Trust Fund and would be available for appropriation from Congress to 

support the assessment and cleanup of the Nation’s highest risk sites within the 

Superfund program.

Base Realignment and Closure Act 

The FY 2013 President’s Budget requests 26 reimbursable FTE to conduct the Base 

Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program (BRAC I-IV). The EPA’s participation in the 

first four rounds of BRAC has been funded by an interagency agreement which expires 

on September 30, 2016. Since 1993, the EPA has worked with the Department of 

Defense (DOD) and state environmental programs to make property environmentally 

acceptable for transfer, while protecting human health and the environment at realigning 

or closing military installations. Between 1988 and 2005, over 500 major military 

installations representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defense Logistics Agency 

have been slated for realignment or closure. Under the first four rounds of BRAC (BRAC 

I-IV), 107 of those sites were identified as requiring accelerated cleanup. The EPA 

provided critical environmental support to DOD and participated in the acceleration 

process of the first four rounds of BRAC. The accelerated cleanup process strives to 

make parcels available for reuse as quickly as possible, by transfer of uncontaminated 

or remediated parcels, lease of contaminated parcels where cleanup is underway, or 

“early transfer” of contaminated property undergoing cleanup. Seventy-two Federal 

facilities currently listed on the NPL were identified under the fifth round of BRAC 

(BRAC V) as closing, realigning, or gaining personnel. 

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Trust Funds 

The FY 2013 request does not include support for BRAC-related services to DOD at 

BRAC V facilities. Rather, the EPA services and resources to support the BRAC V 

installations may be requested from DOD, on an as-needed basis. 

Leaking Underground Storage Tanks 

The FY 2013 President’s Budget requests $104 million and 68 FTE for the Leaking 

Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund program. The Agency, working with 

states and tribes, addresses public health and environmental threats from releases

through prevention and cleanup activities. As required by law (42 U.S.C. 6991c(f)), not 

less than 80 percent of LUST appropriated funds will be used for reasonable costs 

incurred under a cooperative agreements with any state to carry out specific purposes. 

The EPA will continue to work with the states to achieve more cleanups, and reduce the 

backlog of over 87,900 cleanups not yet completed. Between 1986 and 2011, the LUST 

program addressed over 82 percent (or 413,740) of all reported releases. In FY 2013, 

working with state partners, the LUST program will strive to achieve 10,500 cleanups, a 

decrease relative to the FY 2012 target. This reduction is attributed to the complexity of 

remaining sites that have been assessed, increased state staff workload in a fiscally 

constrained/reduced economic environment, decrease in available state resources and 

the increasing cost of cleanups. Additionally, the downward adjustment is attributed to 

the completion of 1,000 Recovery Act-funded sites in FY 2011.

The LUST Trust Fund financing tax expired on September 30, 2011 and was extended 

through March 30, 2012 as part of the Surface and Air Transportation Programs 

Extension Act of 2011. The FY 2013 Budget supports the "polluter pays" principle and 

proposes to continue the LUST Trust Fund financing tax. While tank owners and 

operators are liable for the cost of cleanups at sites for which they have responsibility,

EPA and State regulatory agencies are not always able to identify responsible parties 

and sometimes responsible parties are no longer financially viable or have a limited 

ability to pay. In those cases, the cost of the cleanup is distributed among fuel users 

through the targeted fuel tax, which is available for appropriation from Congress to 

support the prevention and cleanup of sites within the LUST program. Annually, the 

Trust Fund receives more than $150 million in tax receipts.

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120
Acronyms 

Environmental Protection Agency

List of Acronyms

AA Assistant Administrator

ACE/ITDS Automated Commercial Environment/International Trade Data System

ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution

AGO America’s Great Outdoors 

APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 

ARA Assistant Regional Administrator

ARRA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

B&F Buildings and Facilities

CAA Clean Air Act

CAFO Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

CAIR Clean Air Interstate Rule

CAP Clean Air Partnership Fund

CARE Community Action for a Renewed Environment

CASTNet Clean Air Status and Trends Network

CBEP Community-Based Environmental Protection

CBP Customs and Border Protection

CCAP Climate Change Action Plan

CCS Carbon Capture and Storage

CCTI Climate Change Technology Initiative

CEIS Center for Environmental Information and Statistics

CENRS Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability

CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

CG Categorical Grant

CSI Common Sense Initiative

CSO Combined Sewer Overflows

CWA Clean Water Act

CWAP Clean Water Action Plan

DBP Disinfection Byproducts

DFAS Defense Finance and Accounting System

DfE Design for the Environment

EISA Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

EJ Environmental Justice

ELP Environmental Leadership Project

EN Enacted (Budget)

EPAct Energy Policy Act of 2005

EPCRA Emergency Preparedness and Community Right-to-Know Act

EPM Environmental Programs and Management

ERRS Emergency Rapid Response Services

ESC Executive Steering Committee

ETI Environmental Technology Initiative

ETV Environmental Technology Verification

EU European Union

FAN Fixed Account Numbers

FASAB Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board

FCO Funds Certifying Officer

FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act

121
Acronyms 

FLC Federal Leadership Committee

FMFIA Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act

FQPA Food Quality Protection Act 

FRP Facility Response Plan

FSMA Food Safety Modernization Act

FSMP Financial System Modernization Project

FTE Full-Time Equivalent 

FUDS Formerly Used Defense Sites

GAPG General Assistance Program Grants

GHG Greenhouse Gas

GPRA Government Performance and Results Act

HHRA Human Health Risk Assessment

HPV High Production Volume

HS Homeland Security

HSWA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984

HWIR Hazardous Waste Identification Media and Process Rules

IAG Interagency Agreements

ICR Information Collection Rule

IFMS Integrated Financial Management System

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IRIS Integrated Risk Information System

IRM Information Resource Management

ISTEA Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act

ITMRA Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1995-AKA Clinger/Cohen Act

LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee

LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

M&O Management and Oversight

MACT Maximum Achievable Control Technology

MTM Mountaintop Mining

NAAEC North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation

NAAQs National Ambient Air Quality Standards

NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement

NAPA National Academy of Public Administration

NAS National Academy of Sciences 

NATA National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment

NCDC National Clean Diesel Campaign

NCEA National Center for Environmental Assessment

NEA Nuclear Energy Agency

NDPD National Data Processing Division

NEP National Estuary Program

NEPPS National Environmental Performance Partnership System 

NESHAP National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants

NIPP National Infrastructure Protection Plan

NOA New Obligation Authority

NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

NPDWRs National Primary Drinking Water Regulations

NPL National Priority List

NPM National Program Manager

NPR National Performance Review

NPS Nonpoint Source 

122
Acronyms 

NVFEL National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory

OA Office of the Administrator

OAM Office of Acquisition Management

OAR Office of Air and Radiation

OARM Office of Administration and Resources Management

OCFO Office of the Chief Financial Officer

OCHP Office of Children’s Health Protection

OECA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance

OEI Office of Environmental Information

OEM Office of Emergency Management

OFA Other Federal Agencies

OFPP Office of Federal Procurement Policy

OGC Office of General Counsel

OIG Office of Inspector General

OMTR Open Market Trading Rule

OPA Oil Pollution Act of 1990

OPAA Office of Planning, Analysis and Accountability

ORD Office of Research and Development

OSRTI Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation

OSWER Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response

OTAG Ozone Transport Advisory Group

OW Office of Water

PB President’s Budget

PBTs Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins 

PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PC&B Personnel, Compensation and Benefits

PESP Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program

PG Priority Goal

PIRT Pesticide Inspector Residential Program

P2 Pollution Prevention

PM Particulate Matter

PNGV Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles

POTWs Publicly Owned Treatment Works

PPG Performance Partnership Grants

PRC Program Results Code

PREP Pesticide Regulatory Education Program

PRIA Pesticide Registration Improvement Act 

PRIRA Pesticide Registration Improvement Renewal Act

PWSS Public Water System Supervision

RC Responsibility Center

RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976

RGI Regional Geographic Initiative 

RMP Risk Management Plan

RPIO Responsible Planning Implementation Office

RR Reprogramming Request

RRP Renovation, Repair and Painting 

RWTA Rural Water Technical Assistance

S&T Science and Technology

SALC Sub-allocation (level)

SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986

123
Acronyms 

SBIR Small Business Innovation Research

SBEAPs Small Business Environmental Assistance Program

SBO Senior Budget Officer

SBREFA Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act

SDWIS Safe Drinking Water Information System

SERC State Emergency Response Commission 

SIP State Implementation Plan

SITE Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation 

SLC Senior Leadership Council

SPCC Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure

SRF State Revolving Fund

SRO Senior Resource Official

SSWR Safe and Sustainable Water Resources

STAG State and Tribal Assistance Grants

STAR Science to Achieve Results 

STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

STORS Sludge-to-Oil-Reactor

SWP Source Water Protection

SWTR Surface Water Treatment Rule

TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load

TRI Toxic Release Inventory

TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act

UIC Underground Injection Control

USGCRP U.S. Global Change Research Program

UST Underground Storage Tanks

WCF Working Capital Fund

WIF Water Infrastructure Funds

WIPP Waste Isolation Pilot Project

WSI Water Security Initiative

WTO World Trade Organization

124

United States Environmental Protection Agency

www.epa.gov