July 1, the House Appropriations Committee passed its Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) appropriations bill for Interior, Environment and Related Agencies (Interior-Environment). This legislation provides funding for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other agencies from October 1, 2021 until September 30, 2022.
The bill provides a total of $11.3 billion for EPA, an increase of $2.1 billion above the FY21 enacted level. Funding for programs relevant to public works includes:
- $3.23 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, $464 million above the FY21 enacted level
- $326.6 million for grants for drinking water contaminants and wastewater treatment for lead, nitrates, and other hazards, an increase of $117.5 million above the FY21 enacted level
- $60 million for Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Control Grants, an increase of $20 million above the FY21 enacted level
- $5 million for the Water Workforce Infrastructure grants program, an increase of $2 million from the FY21 enacted level
- $80 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, including $5 million for the more recently created State infrastructure financing authority WIFIA (SWIFIA) program and $8 million for administrative expenses, a total increase of $15 million above the FY21 enacted level
- $61.8 million in new funding to help establish drinking water and cleanup standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- $248 million for Environmental Justice activities, an increase of $235 million above the FY 21 enacted level
The bill provides a total of $15.6 billion in for DOI, an increase of $2.3 billion above the FY 21 enacted level. Funding for programs relevant to public works includes:
- $1.6 billion for the U.S. Geological Survey, an increase of $327 million above the FY21 enacted level
- $5.66 for Wildland Fire Management, an increase of $385.82 million above the FY21 enacted level