From ELFVING.JULIE@epamail.epa.govSat Feb 17 13:52:08 1996 Date: Fri, 16 Feb 1996 16:02:22 -0500 From: JULIE ELFVING To: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Legis Update - Feb. 15 -Forwarded Information on budget, farm bill, clean water act, safe drinking water act... Date: 02/15/1996 05:18 pm (Thursday) From: PATRICIA SCOTT To: RTPMAINHUB.WPXGATE(GRUBBS-GEOFFREY,"MARK SMITH",VILLANUEVA-EDNA,BELEFSKI-MARY,BOYD-JOYCE,BRADY-DON ALD,BROSSMAN-MARTIN,BUIE-LYNDA,BURGAN-BARRY, . . . CC: DCWIC04.DCWCPO7(REGAS-DIANE,KASTEN-TIM),DCWIC02.DCWCPO4(C OHEN-LOUISE) Subject: Legis Update - Feb. 15 Schedule Congress is currently in recess until the week of February 26. Final action on the fiscal year 1996 appropriation bills is expected when Congress reconvenes. EPA Appropriations Although there is some interest among House and Senate leaders to resurrect the balanced budget discussions, there are still major policy differences. House Budget Committee Chairman John Kasich (R-Ohio) and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) have been holding some meetings in an effort to forge a consensus coalition. But even if an agreement can be reached, a deal is highly unlikely before the March 15 deadline when the current Continuing Resolution (CR) expires. If a balanced budget agreement is not reached by March 15, the Republican leadership is reportedly considering an omnibus spending package that would lump all the remaining spending measures into one single bill. The bill would fund EPA and other departments without signed appropriations bills through October 1, 1996. (Five of the thirteen appropriations bill, which should have been enacted by October 1, 1995, have not yet been signed into law). House Speaker Gingrich predicted that the (yet-to be-drafted) omnibus spending bill will likely come to the House floor the week of March 4. Because the amount of discretionary funding is set at a fixed rate, the so-called 604 (a) allocation, (which is based on this year's budget resolution, H.Con.Res. 67), there is not a lot of money that can be shifted around for the remaining spending bills. Senate Appropriations Chairman Mark Hatfield, however, says he is hopeful that he can find "a little more money for EPA." Because a number of agencies and departments have been operating at reduced levels under the four CRs, these bills have produced an overall savings of about $7 billion, which theoretically, could be used to bridge some of the overall congressional and administration funding differences. Reportedly, the House and Senate will pass different measures that will then go to conference. Action on Farm Bill Last week, the Senate passed a farm reauthorization bill. The bill includes provisions from Congressman Pat Roberts' "Freedom to Farm" proposal, which provides farmers with fixed, but declining payments over the next seven years. It differs, however, from the House proposal in that it expands conservation and environmental incentives programs. It creates a new Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which combines several existing conservation programs. EQIP would provide financial and technical assistance to farmers to protect soil and water quality. Included in EQIP is a new Livestock Environmental Assistance Fund (LEAP) that will provide $100 million annually in technical assistance to farmers who conduct management practices to protect water, soil or related resources from degradation due to livestock production. The bill caps the Conservation Reserve Program at 36.4 million acres, but it does provide for targeting of environmentally sensitive lands. It also makes changes to the Wetlands Reserve Program, so that one-third of the acres would be under permanent easements, one-third in 30-year easements and one-third in restoration cost-sharing agreements. It limits the amount of wetlands that can be enrolled in the program at 975,000 acres through 2002. The Senate bill also contains $200 million for land acquisition in the agricultural areas of the Everglades. The former 5-year farm bill expired in December and with the planting season here, there is strong pressure on the House to take action. There are, however, significant disagreements among House Members, as well as among the House and Senate over a number of key issues. Safe Drinking Water Act The House is expected to act H.R. 2747, a bill to reauthorize the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), when it returns from its February recess. In December, the Senate passed a comprehensive SDWA reauthorization, which received considerable bipartisan support. The Senate bill overhauls the current standard setting process, increases monitoring flexibility, and authorizes a $1 billion SDWA State Revolving Loan Fund. The bill also authorizes a new source water quality protection partnerships program to encourage "locally-driven, voluntary incentive-based efforts" by public water systems, local governments and private parties. On Jan. 31, Bob Perciasepe testified before two House Committees on the SDWA reauthorization. Perciasepe said that H.R. 2747 is a useful starting point, but said that its SRF authorization levels are not sufficient to meet the Clinton Administration's goal of a establishing a sustainable level of several hundred million dollars per year. He also emphasized that the Administration would oppose any bill that did not consider "public health protection" its number one priority. Upcoming Hearings/Meetings On Feb. 27 and 28, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Water Resources Subcommittee (Chairman Congressman Sherry Boehlert (R-NY)) is scheduled to hold a hearing on the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA). No EPA witness is scheduled to testify. On Feb., 28 Administrator Browner and Bob Wayland are scheduled to meet with Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly (D-CT) and Members of the Connecticut delegation to discuss wetlands issues associated with the Route 6 highway project. On Feb. 29 The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies is scheduled to hold a hearing on the NAPA report. This Spring, the Senate is expected to hold several CWA hearings. They are likely to be grouped according to the following: 1) industrial flexibility, 2) wet weather, and 3) coastal and nonpoint source issues. A hearing on municipal issues was held on December 13. Wyden Wins Oregon Special Election Former Congressman Ron Wyden (D-OR) won the election in Oregon to replace departing Senator Bob Packwood (R-OR). Ron has a strong environmental record (92% "LCV" rating in '94), which he credited in his victory over his Republican challenger, Gordon Smith.