June 2009
Interior Announces Release of Title XVI Stimulus Funds
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced July 1 that $134.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds are being released to local water agencies for 27 innovative water reuse and desalination projects. The stimulus funding is being directed to "shovel ready" projects authorized under the Title XVI Program, which is administered by the Bureau of Reclamation in 17 western states.
"We thank the Department of the Interior for making these funds available to drought starved communities in a timely fashion," said WateReuse Association President Richard Atwater, who is also General Manager and CEO of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency in Chino, CA. "Water recycling and reuse project construction assistance is one of the best ways to address the current economic downturn. The assistance will help local communities generate jobs immediately and those jobs will create projects that sustain long-term economic activity."
Local governments will leverage the federal funding by a factor of about 5:1 through matching funding, resulting in a total investment of more than $676 million in new water reuse and desalination projects. The Bureau of Reclamation has budgeted about $4.2 million to ensure the projects' compliance with federal regulations and statutes as well as adherence to ARRA goals.
"The Bureau of Reclamation is known for its forward-looking partnerships with local communities and governments to provide reliable, efficient water across 17 western states," Secretary Salazar said. Association Advocates for Infrastructure Assistance
In partnership with other water stakeholders, the WateReuse Association successfully worked to ensure incorporation of language into legislation sponsored by Representative Lois Capps (D-CA) to provide infrastructure funding assistance to water reuse and desalination facilities to respond to challenges posed by climate change.
Although Rep. Capps introduced a bill on June 19 that would have established an EPA grant program to address climate change impacts on water and wastewater services through adaptive management, the amendment was not included in the climate change legislation, which narrowly passed the House of Representatives on June 26.
The Water System Adaptation Partnership Act, H.R. 2969, would have provided 50% cost-share grants to public agencies to address water efficiency or conservation; water metering to assist in water efficiency effectiveness; improvement in water quality; source water preservation and protection; energy efficiency; water reuse or recycling to increase water supply or improve water quality; and support for climate change impact assessments.
The Association will work with other stakeholders-including the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies-to encourage the Senate to include the amendment in its version of climate change legislation.
Appointments Taking Helm
Senior level political appointees are receiving Senate confirmation and being sworn into office. The latest decisions include Deanna Archuleta to be Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science. She joins Mike Connor, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, who was sworn into office earlier this spring. Both of these positions hold responsibility for management of water recycling and desalination policy and programs, including Title XVI.
At the Environmental Protection Agency, Pete Silva will assume management of the Agency's water supply and water quality programs, having received Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approval. Silva likely will be joined at the EPA by Robert Perciasepe, whom President Obama nominated to be the next Deputy Administrator for the Agency.
Federal Budget Process Moving Forward
Efforts to secure final passage of a fiscal year 2010 budget by October 1, 2009 appear on schedule as the House Committee on Appropriations begins consideration of the 12 spending bills.
Senate action on spending bills is expected to proceed over the month of July once the House votes approval on bills. With prompt Senate action expected in July, it seems likely that final funding decisions will be reconciled between the two chambers in September or early October. It also is becoming apparent that Congress is scaling back the number of earmarks.
Agencies also have been asked to develop a 2011 budget within a new framework that would give the President three options to consider. Under this scenario, agencies are required to develop 2011 budgets that reduce program spending by 5% over the fiscal year 2010 request, freeze spending at 2010, and identify key program needs that comply with the Administration's program priorities.