Contact Us

Newsroom

All News Releases By Date

 

WHITMAN PRAISES COMMITTEE FOR EPA’S BUDGET

Release Date: 11/06/2001
Contact Information:

Environmental News

FOR RELEASE: TUESDAY, NOV. 6, 2001
WHITMAN PRAISES COMMITTEE FOR EPA’S BUDGET
Bonnie Piper, 202 564-7836 / piper.bonnie@epa.gov
David Deegan, 202-564-7839 / deegan.dave@epa.gov


EPA Administrator Christie Whitman today praised the hard work of the Veterans, Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies Appropriations Conference Committee as it finalized the Agency’s budget for fiscal year 2002.

“I commend the Conference Committee for the work it has done to allocate funds to further the goals of the EPA,” Whitman said. “The $7.9 billion will enable the Agency to move forward on its initiatives. I want to extend my appreciation for the leadership provided by Senators Barbara Mikulski and Christopher Bond and Representatives James Walsh and Alan Mollohan in crafting this measure for maximum effect.”

The Committee provided $25 million that was a priority for the Agency and the Administration to give grants to states to help develop and implement the Environmental Information Exchange Network. “The funds will help build on work that is already underway in several states to develop a single integrated information system. The information in one place will help to provide more reliable, high quality information for the public, ease reporting burdens for the regulated community and standardize business processes,” Whitman explained.

In addition, the Conference ratified the Agency’s previous week’s decision on setting a level of 10 parts per billion of arsenic in drinking water. Administrator Whitman’s letter to the conferees was included in the conference report of the appropriations measure.

The Conference Committee planned to file its report today and push for floor action this week on the VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations measure for fiscal year 2002.

R-222 ###