Document nmnk1VYebG4o8K8arZmvj8x81

To: Barbery, Andrea[Barbery.Andrea@epa.gov]; Bennett, Tate[Bennett.Tate@epa.gov]; Jackson, RyanOackson.ryan@epa.gov]; Bangerter, Layne[bangerter.layne@epa.gov]; Lyons, Troy[lyons.troy@epa.gov]; Wagner, Kenneth[wagner.kenneth@epa.gov] From: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn Sent: Tue 5/23/2017 4:45:40 PM Subject: ECOS Press Release: Statement on the President's FY18 EPA Budget E laet Press Stmt 5 23 FINAL.pdf Environment/Energy Reporter: Please see the attached press statement on today's release of the President's FY18 EPA Budget. Regards, Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, Esq. Executive Director & General Counsel Environmental Council of the States 50 F Street NW. Suite 350 Washington, DC 20001 202-266-4929 (T); 202-230-4247 (C);202-266-4937 (F) adunn&.ecos.org; Twitter @ECOStates See my research: http://ssrn. com/author= 1356207 Save the Date! ECOS' State Environmental Protection (STEP) Meeting, 7/17/17, Washington, DC, www.ecos.org 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA - 6/22 Production ED 001523 00003766-00001 PRESS STATEMENT ECOS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 Contact: Alexandra Dunn, (202) 266-4929 or aduiin@ecos.org Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) Statement on the President's FY18 EPA Budget Washington, D.C. - "States are collectively and independently reviewing the President's proposal. We appreciate the interactions and outreach by the Administration to seek state input and look forward to further engagement on the budget with the Administration and Congressional Delegations," said ECOS President and Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency John Line Stine regarding this morning's release of the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "It will be important that budget adjustments are made thoughtfully and with caution to assure sustained support to programs that advance the well-being of our communities and to the many partnerships we employ to deliver programs that drive critical environmental and public health protection," Stine added. The Administration's proposed funding for the State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) Categorical Grants "continues a national conversation about how to deliver environmental programs in our country efficiently and with a focus on results and outcomes," said ECOS Executive Director Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, adding, "ECOS is committed to, with our federal, state, and local partners, assessing how we collectively perform environmental protection work today in the most efficient, least duplicative, manner possible." Categorical Grants support state implementation of the federal environmental programs delegated to them over the past four decades. This includes activities like permits, inspections, standard setting, data collection, enforcement, compliance assistance, citizen response, preparing for and responding to accidental or intentional releases of contaminants, and cleaning up and restoring sites. A recent ECOS' report shows that Categorical Grants support on average 27 percent of state environmental agency budgets. Stine expressed appreciation for the Administration's clear signal in favor of water infrastructure investment, with level funding proposed for State Revolving Loan fund. "The need is real," said Stine, noting ECOS' recent documentation, that just the top 20 ready to go in 2017 water and wastewater projects per state alone total over $14.4 billion. Noting the importance of scientific research, Dunn added that "ECOS plans to work with the Administration and other partners to see that Congressionally appropriated EPA research dollars respond to identifi. be environmental agency research needs." ECOS is the national nonprofit, nonpartisan association of state and territorial environmental commissioners. For more information see www.ecos.org. 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA - 6/22 Production ED 001523 00003767-00001