Document B5VywkMz0v1qjZ0Zw80jagX94

To: Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov]; Greenwait, Sarah[greenwalt.sarah@epa.gov]; Forsgren, Lee[Forsgren.Lee@epa.gov] From: Mike Keegan Sent: Wed 8/16/2017 3:21:13 PM Subject: Fwd: FY2017 EPA Technical Assistance Funding & Appropriations Help (please). --------- Forwarded message---------From: Mike Keegan <keegan@ruralwater.org> Date: Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 1:28 PM Subject: Fwd: FY2017 EPA Technical Assistance Funding & Appropriations To: Greenwalt.Sarah@epa.gov, Forsgreii.lee@epa.gov Cc: "Clifford, Brian (EPW)" <Brian Clifford@epw. senate. gov>, "Mark Pepper (markp@warws.com)" <markp@warws.com>, "susan@odine@epw.senate.gov" <susan@odine@epw.senate.gov>, matt <matt@nrwa.org>, Sam Wade <sam@nrwa.org>, Bill Simpson <bills@nrwa.org>, "Roberson, Alan" <aroberson@asdwa.org>, Keith Heard <Keith@nrwa. org> Hello Sarah and Lee: we are hearing that the Agency program staff is not going to follow the Administration's policy decisions, the clear statutory authority, and Congressional intent in implementing Congressionally-funded technical assistance appropriations. We would grateful for the opportunity to brief you on this concern anytime next week. Mike Keegan, Analyst National Rural Water Association Washington, DC --------- Forwarded message---------From: Mike Keegan <keegan@ruralwater.org> Date: Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 1:07 PM Subject: FY2017 EPA Technical Assistance Funding & Appropriations To: matt <matt@nrwa.org>, Sam Wade <sam@nnva.org>, Bill Simpson <bills@nrwa.org>, "Roberson, Alan" <aroberson@asdwa.org> EPA was directed by Congress to follow this provision for awarding $12.7 million in FY 2017 technical assistance funds (link). Also, on March 18, 2016, 27 U.S. Senators wrote the appropriations committee urging funding for the recently enacted Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act. The provision provided EPA with the option to allocate $11.0 million of the technical assistance for "organizations authorized by Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act." On June 9, 2017, five U.S. Senators, including the co-chairs of the Safe Drinking Water Act authorization subcommittee, wrote the EPA Administrator urging him to use his discretion to dedicate all the technical assistance funding to organizations authorized by the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act. The letter stated, "In December 2015, Congress unanimously passed and the president signed the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act, which directs the EPA to provide on-site technical assistance in a manner that is most effective to small and rural 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA ED_001523_00000524-00001 communities. By following the authorities under the Act, we are hopeful on-site technical assistance can be reestablished in our states and ultimately make the program more effective and easierfor the EPA to implement. " On July 25, 2017, EPA replied to the five Senators acknowledging that the Agency will dedicate the Congressionally-funded technical assistance appropriations to the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act. Mike Keegan, Analyst National Rural Water Association Washington, DC 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA ED_001523_00000524-00002