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• Water Infrastructure Needs and Investment: Review and Analysis of Key Issues [December 21, 2010]

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  "Policymakers are giving increased attention to issues associated with financing and investing in the nation's drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, which take in water, treat it, and distribute it to households and other customers, and later collect, treat, and discharge water after use. The renewed attention is due to a combination of factors. These include financial impacts on communities of meeting existing and anticipated regulatory requirements, the need to repair and replace existing infrastructure, concerns about paying for security-related projects, and proposals to stimulate U.S. economic activity by building and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. [...] This report identifies a number of issues that continue to receive attention in connection with water infrastructure investment. It begins with a review of federal involvement; describes the debate about needs; and then examines key issues, including what is the nature of the problems to be solved, who will pay, and what is the federal role, and questions about mechanisms for delivering federal support. Congressional and Administration activity on these issues since the 107th Congress also is reviewed. (For detailed information on legislative activity in the 111th Congress, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report R40098, 'Water Quality Issues in the 111th Congress: Oversight and Implementation,' and CRS Report RS22037, 'Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF): Program Overview and Issues.)'"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary; Copeland, Claudia

  2010-12-21
• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements [December 10, 2010]

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  "This report summarizes the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and its major programs and regulatory requirements. It excerpts, with several additions, the SDWA chapter of CRS Report RL30798, Environmental Laws: Summaries of Major Statutes Administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, which provides summaries of the principal environmental statutes administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This report includes the drinking water security provisions added to the SDWA by the Public Heath Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-188). The SDWA, Title XIV of the Public Health Service Act, is the key federal law for protecting public water supplies from harmful contaminants. First enacted in 1974 and substantially amended in 1986 and 1996, the act is administered through programs that establish standards and treatment requirements for public water supplies, control underground injection of wastes, finance infrastructure projects, and protect sources of drinking water. The 1974 law established the current federal-state arrangement in which states may be delegated primary implementation and enforcement authority for the drinking water program. The state-administered Public Water Supply Supervision (PWSS) Program remains the basic program for regulating the nation's public water systems, and 49 states have assumed this authority. The last major reauthorization of the act was done through the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 (P.L. 104-182), which generally authorized appropriations for SDWA programs through FY2003. As with other EPA-administered statutes having expired funding authority, Congress has continued to appropriate funds for the ongoing SDWA programs. In addition to reviewing key programs and requirements of the SDWA, this report includes statistics on the number and types of regulated public water systems. It also provides tables that list all major amendments, with the year of enactment and public law number, and that cross-reference sections of the act with the major U.S. Code sections of the codified statute."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2010-12-10
• Water Infrastructure Needs and Investment: Review and Analysis of Key Issues [Updated May 5, 2005]

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  "A number of interest groups and coalitions have issued reports on infrastructure funding needs and related policy issues, as have EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). They present a range of estimates and scenarios of future investment costs and gaps between current spending and future costs. EPA and CBO, in particular, caution that projections of future costs are highly uncertain, and that funding gaps are not inevitable. […]. Congressional interest in these issues has grown for some time and continues in the 109th Congress, partly in response to urgings of stakeholder groups. In both the 107th and 108th Congresses, House and Senate committees acted on comprehensive legislation to reauthorize and modify infrastructure financing programs in the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, but no bills were enacted. The Bush Administration has addressed water infrastructure in a number of general ways, but has not offered legislative proposals of its own. EPA's principal initiative has been to support strategies intended to ensure that infrastructure investment needs are met in an efficient, timely, and equitable manner. This report identifies a number of issues that have received attention in connection with water infrastructure investment. It begins with a review of federal involvement, describes the debate about needs, and then examines key issues, including what is the nature of the problems to be solved; who will pay, and what is the federal role; and questions about mechanisms for delivering federal support, including state-by-state allotment of federal funds."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary; Copeland, Claudia

  2005-05-05
• Safeguarding the Nation's Drinking Water: EPA and Congressional Actions [Updated August 22, 2002]

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  "The events of September 11 raised concerns about the security of the nation's drinking water supplies and their vulnerability to attack. Issues include the readiness of water utilities to prevent and respond to attacks on water systems, steps that can be taken to improve preparedness and response capabilities, and the availability of resources to help utilities enhance drinking water security. After a presidential commission on critical infrastructure protection identified vulnerabilities in the drinking water sector in 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with other federal agencies, water utilities, and state and local governments, began taking steps to improve the security of water systems, although these efforts generally were not targeted to current concerns over terrorism. For several years, EPA has provided some research, information, and technical and financial assistance to improve preparedness and increase the security of drinking water systems and supplies. Some of these activities began pursuant to the 1998 Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 63 on protecting the nation's critical infrastructure, but PDD-63 efforts were focused almost entirely on computer security issues. Since September 11; however, EPA has substantially broadened and expedited its efforts to help drinking water utilities safeguard facilities and supplies from terrorist or other threats. Congress has taken significant steps to improve security in the water sector since September 11. In the emergency supplemental appropriations for FY2002 (P.L. 107- 117, H.R.3338), Congress provided EPA with $175.6 million for several counterterrorism activities, including enhancing drinking water security."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2002-08-22
• Safeguarding the Nation's Drinking Water: EPA and Congressional Actions [September 30, 2010]

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  "The events of September 11, 2001, focused heightened attention on the security status of the nation's drinking water supplies and the vulnerability of this critical infrastructure sector to attack. Congress since has enacted security requirements for public water systems and has provided funding for vulnerability assessments, emergency planning, and drinking water research. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the lead federal agency for the water sector, has worked with water utilities, state and local governments, and federal agencies to improve the drinking water security. The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (P.L. 107- 188) amended the Safe Drinking Water Act to require some 8,400 community water systems to assess vulnerabilities and prepare emergency response plans. It authorized funding for these activities and for emergency grants to states and utilities, and it directed EPA to review methods to prevent, detect, and respond to threats to water safety and infrastructure security. The act did not require water systems to make security upgrades to address potential vulnerabilities. In most years since FY2002, Congress appropriated roughly $5 million annually for EPA to work with states and the water sector to improve the security of drinking water supplies."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2010-09-30
• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): Selected Regulatory and Legislative Issues [April 22, 2010]

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  "Water infrastructure financing legislation has been offered repeatedly in recent Congresses to authorize higher funding levels for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program, and also to provide grants and other compliance assistance to small communities. […]. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has reported S. 1005, a drinking water and wastewater infrastructure financing bill, and a bill to establish a water infrastructure trust fund, H.R. 3202, was introduced in the House. A newer SDWA issue concerns proposals and research regarding the underground injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) for long-term storage as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] has proposed regulations under SDWA [Safe Drinking Water Act] to provide a national permitting framework for managing the underground injection of CO2 for commercial-scale sequestration projects. In August 2009, EPA published a notice of data availability and requested additional comment on the proposed rule. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA; P.L. 110-140) included carbon sequestration research and development provisions, and specified that geologic sequestration activities shall be subject to SDWA provisions related to protecting underground drinking water sources. Another underground injection issue concerns the increasing use of hydraulic fracturing to produce natural gas from unconventional geologic formations. Bills have been introduced to authorize regulation of this practice under the SDWA underground injection control program."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2010-04-22
• Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (USTs): Prevention and Cleanup [April 20, 2010]

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  From the Document: "To address a nationwide water pollution problem caused by leaking underground storage tanks (USTs), Congress authorized a leak prevention, detection, and cleanup program in 1984, under Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. In 1986, Congress established the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund to provide a source of funds to support the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and states in remediating leaks from petroleum USTs. Historically, EPA and states primarily have used LUST fund appropriations to oversee LUST cleanup activities by responsible parties and to clean up sites where owners fail to do so. […]. Since the program began, the frequency and severity of releases from UST systems have been reduced significantly. As of the start of FY2010, cleanup had been initiated or completed at nearly 80% of the 488,000 confirmed leaking tank sites, while a backlog of more than 100,000 contaminated sites remained. […]. Congress has increased program funding since the enactment of EPAct. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA; P.L. 111-5) appropriated $200 million from the trust fund for the LUST cleanup program, and Congress provided another $112.6 million from the fund for cleanup and leak prevention and detection activities in regular FY2009 appropriations. For FY2010, in P.L. 111-88, Congress provided $113.1 million from the fund, including $78.7 million for LUST cleanup activities, and $34.4 million for UST leak prevention, detection, and other program responsibilities added by the EPAct. The Administration has requested similar amounts for FY2011. This report reviews UST and LUST programs and related issues and developments."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2010-04-20
• Safe Drinking Water Act: State Revolving Fund Program [Updated May 10, 2004]

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  "In the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 (P.L. 104-182), Congress authorized a drinking water state revolving loan fund (DWSRF) program to help public water systems finance infrastructure projects needed to comply with federal drinking water regulations and to protect public health. Under this program, states receive capitalization grants to make loans for drinking water projects and to support certain other SDWA activities. The DWSRF program was authorized at $1 billion annually through FY2003. Since the program was first funded in FY1997, Congress has provided $6.94 billion, including $844.9 million for FY2004. Through June 2003, the DWSRF program had provided $6.37 billion in assistance and supported 5,333 projects. For FY2005, the Administration has requested $850 million for this program. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) 2001 survey of capital improvement needs for public water systems indicated that communities need to invest $150.9 billion on drinking water infrastructure improvements over the next 20 years. Interest in addressing infrastructure funding needs and related issues continues in the 108th Congress. Key issues include the gap between estimated needs and funding, SDWA compliance and cost issues, particularly for small systems, and the availability of funds for security improvements. Bills have been introduced to increase DWSRF funding levels and to provide grants to small systems. This report will be updated."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2004-05-10
• Water Infrastructure Needs and Investment: Review and Analysis of Key Issues [Updated November 24, 2008]

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  "This report identifies a number of issues that have received attention in connection with water infrastructure investment. It begins with a review of federal involvement, describes the debate about needs, and then examines key issues, including what is the nature of the problems to be solved; who will pay, and what is the federal role; and questions about mechanisms for delivering federal support, including state-by-state allotment of federal funds. Congressional and Administration activity on these issues from the 107th to the 110th Congresses also is reviewed." "Policymakers are giving increased attention to issues associated with financing and investing in the nation's drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, which take in water, treat it, and distribute it to households and other customers, and later collect, treat, and discharge water after use. The renewed attention is due to a combination of factors. These include financial impacts on communities of meeting existing and anticipated regulatory requirements, the need to repair and replace existing infrastructure, concerns about paying for security-related projects, and proposals to stimulate U.S. economic activity by building and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. The federal government has a long history of involvement with wastewater and drinking water systems, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) having the most significant role, both in terms of regulation and funding. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also plays an important role in rural communities through its water and wastewater loan and grant programs."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary; Copeland, Claudia

  2008-11-24
• Safeguarding the Nation's Drinking Water: EPA and Congressional Actions [Updated December 15, 2004]

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  "The events of September 11, 2001, raised new concerns about the security of the nations drinking water supplies and their vulnerability to attack. Issues have included the readiness of water utilities to prevent and respond to attacks on water systems, the efforts utilities have made to assess vulnerabilities and improve preparedness and response capabilities, and the availability of resources to help utilities enhance drinking water security. After a presidential commission on critical infrastructure protection identified vulnerabilities in the water sector in 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with other federal agencies, water utilities, and state and local governments, began taking steps to improve the security of water systems. The 1998 Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 63 on protecting critical infrastructure designated EPA as the lead federal agency for the water sector; however, efforts focused almost entirely on computer security. Since September 2001, EPA and its water sector partners have undertaken many actions to enhance the security of water supplies and infrastructure."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2004-12-15
• Safeguarding the Nation's Drinking Water: EPA and Congressional Actions [Updated December 18, 2002]

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  "The events of September 11 raised concerns about the security of the nations drinking water supplies and their vulnerability to attack. Issues include the readiness of water utilities to prevent and respond to attacks on water systems, steps that can be taken to improve preparedness and response capabilities, and the availability of resources to help utilities enhance drinking water security. After a presidential commission on critical infrastructure protection identified vulnerabilities in the water sector in 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with other federal agencies, water utilities, and state and local governments, began taking steps to improve the security of water systems, although these efforts generally were not targeted to current concerns over terrorism. Pursuant to the 1998 Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 63 on protecting the nations critical infrastructure, EPA had provided some research, information, and technical and financial assistance to improve preparedness and increase the security of drinking water systems. However, PDD-63 efforts were focused almost entirely on computer security issues. Following September 11, EPA significantly increased and expedited efforts to help utilities safeguard facilities and supplies from terrorist or other threats. The 107th Congress took significant steps to improve security in the water sector."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2002-12-18
• Bioterrorism: Legislation to Improve Public Health Preparedness and Response Capacity [January 31, 2002]

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  From the Document: "The recent anthrax attacks, though small in scale compared to the scenarios envisioned by bioterrorism experts, strained the public health system and raised concern that the nation is insufficiently prepared to respond to bioterrorist attacks. Improving public health preparedness and response capacity offers protection not only from bioterrorist attacks, but also from naturally occurring public health emergencies. In December 2001, the House and Senate each passed legislation (H.R. 3448, S. 1765) to improve the public health systems capacity to respond to bioterrorism. This legislation builds on the programs and authorities established in Title III of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act by the Public Health Threats and Emergencies Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-505, Title I). While the two bills are similar in many respects, there are several key differences that will be addressed in conference. The Senate bill (S. 1765) would authorize a total of $3.25 billion in FY2002 to increase the public health systems bioterrorism preparedness and response capability, including $640 million to expand the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile (NPS), $509 million to purchase smallpox vaccine, and $1.46 billion for grants to state and local health departments and hospitals. S. 1765 would also strengthen regulation of domestic and imported food by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and give the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) new authority to safeguard the nations agricultural industry from the threat of bioterrorism."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Redhead, C. Stephen; Vogt, Donna U.; Tiemann, Mary

  2002-01-31
• Leaking Underground Storage Tanks: Program Status and Issues [Updated March 14, 2006]

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  From the Document: "To address a nationwide pollution problem caused by leaking underground storage tanks (USTs), Congress created a leak prevention, detection, and cleanup program in 1984. In 1986, Congress established the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund to help the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and states pay the costs of cleaning up leaking petroleum USTs where owners fail to do so, and to oversee LUST cleanup activities. Much progress has been made in the program, but challenges remain. A major issue concerns the discovery of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) at thousands of LUST sites. This gasoline additive, used to reduce air pollution from auto emissions, is very water soluble, and leaks involving MTBE are more costly to remediate. Another issue is that state resources have not met the demands of overseeing the UST regulatory program. States have long sought larger appropriations from the trust fund to support the LUST program, and some have sought more flexibility in using LUST funds. The presence of MTBE in water supplies heightened congressional interest in authorizing fund appropriations to address MTBE leaks and enforce the leak prevention program."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2005-03-14
• Safe Drinking Water Act: Implementation and Issues [Updated November 7, 2005]

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  "Key drinking water issues on the agenda in the 109th Congress have included problems caused by specific contaminants, such as the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), and perchlorate, as well as the related issue of the appropriate federal role in providing financial assistance for water infrastructure projects. Congress last reauthorized the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1996, and although funding authority for most SDWA programs expired in FY2003, broad reauthorization efforts are not expected as EPA, states, and water systems remain busy implementing the 1996 amendments. Congress included provisions in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58, H.R. 6) to address existing MTBE contamination of water and to better prevent future problems. The act authorizes funding from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund for the cleanup of MTBE releases and adds leak prevention provisions to the federal underground storage tank regulatory program. The Energy Policy Act also prevents EPA from regulating the underground injection of fluids (other than diesel fuel) into drinking water sources for hydraulic fracturing purposes related to oil, gas and geothermal production."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2005-11-07
• Federal Disaster and Emergency Assistance for Water Infrastructure Facilities and Supplies [September 9, 2005]

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  "Natural and other disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, can impair, contaminate, or destroy public water systems, including treatment facilities and distribution systems. Costs of addressing such damage can be substantial, while the potential public health and safety consequences of lost or impaired water supplies necessitate rapid responses. Natural and other disasters also can have calamitous impacts on other water infrastructure facilities, such as wastewater treatment plants and flood control systems. To help address such emergencies, Congress has authorized programs over the years that can provide emergency assistance to repair and restore drinking water, wastewater, and related water infrastructure systems and facilities. This report offers information on federal programs that can provide emergency drinking water, wastewater, and related assistance. These include the Public Assistance grant program (Federal Emergency Management Agency), Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grant Program and Emergency Watershed Protection Program (U.S. Department of Agriculture), Drinking Water Emergency Assistance (Environmental Protection Agency), and flood control and coastal emergency response (Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers). This report will be updated to reflect developments. (For a review of other federal water assistance programs, see CRS Report RL30478, Federally Supported Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Programs.)"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary; Copeland, Claudia

  2005-09-09
• Bioterrorism: Legislation to Improve Public Health Preparedness and Response Capacity [Updated March 8, 2002]

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  From the Document: "The recent anthrax attacks, though small in scale compared to the scenarios envisioned by bioterrorism experts, strained the public health system and raised concern that the nation is insufficiently prepared to respond to bioterrorist attacks. [...] While lawmakers work towards final passage of new authorizing legislation, Congress has appropriated $3 billion to the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) for FY2002 to increase bioterrorism preparedness at the federal, state, and local levels. [...] HHS is dispersing the funds according to existing authorities and the broad spending parameters set out in the appropriations bills."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Redhead, C. Stephen; Vogt, Donna U.; Tiemann, Mary

  2002-03-08
• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): Selected Regulatory and Legislative Issues [Updated September 10, 2008]

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  This is an updated report from the Congressional Research Service on the regulatory and legislative issues of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). "Much progress has been made in assuring the quality of public water supplies since the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was first enacted in 1974. Public water systems must meet extensive regulations, and public water system management has become a much more complex and professional endeavor. […] Despite such progress, however, an array of issues and challenges remain. In the 110th Congress, key issues have involved infrastructure funding needs, related compliance issues, and concerns caused by detections of unregulated contaminants in drinking water, such as perchlorate and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Another issue involves the adequacy of existing regulations (such as trichloroethylene) and EPA's pace in reviewing and potentially revising older standards. […] Although funding authority for most SDWA programs expired in FY2003, Congress continues to appropriate funds annually for these programs. No broad reauthorization bills have been proposed, as EPA, states, and water systems continue efforts to implement and comply with the requirements of the 1996 law and new regulations. […] The issue of the affordability of drinking water regulations, such as those for arsenic, radium, and disinfection by-products, has merged with the larger debate over what is the appropriate federal role in assisting communities with financing drinking water infrastructure. Water infrastructure financing legislation has been offered in recent Congresses to authorize increased funding for the DWSRF program and to provide grant assistance for small communities. In the 110th Congress, bills have been introduced to provide technical, financial, and other compliance assistance to small communities."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2008-09-10
• Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF): Program Overview and Issues [Updated October 24, 2008]

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  This CRS report is an overview of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)."The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 authorized a drinking water state revolving loan fund (DWSRF) program to help public water systems finance infrastructure projects needed to comply with federal drinking water regulations and to protect public health. Under the program, states receive capitalization grants to make loans to water systems for drinking water projects and certain other SDWA activities. Since FY1997, Congress has provided more than $10.3 billion for this program, including $829 million for FY2008. As of June 2007, the DWSRF program had provided a total of $12.6 billion in assistance and supported 5,346 projects. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) latest (2003) survey of capital improvement needs for public water systems found that water systems need to invest $276.8 billion on infrastructure improvements over 20 years to ensure the provision of safe water. This amount represents a 60% increase over the 1999 survey estimate of $165.5 billion (in 2003 dollars) and reflects funds needed for compliance with several revised regulations (e.g., the arsenic and radium rules), security-related needs, and better reporting of needs for infrastructure rehabilitation and replacement. Key issues include the gap between estimated needs and funding, SDWA compliance costs, and the need for cities to update and maintain water infrastructure, apart from SDWA compliance."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2008-10-24
• Safe Drinking Water Act: State Revolving Fund Program [Updated January 7, 2003]

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  "In the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 (P.L. 104-182), Congress authorized a drinking water state revolving loan fund (DWSRF) program to help public water systems finance infrastructure projects needed to comply with federal drinking water regulations and to protect public health. Under this program, states receive capitalization grants to make loans for drinking water projects and to support certain other activities. The DWSRF program is authorized at $1 billion annually through FY2003. Since the program was first funded in FY1997, Congress has provided a total of $5.27 billion, including $850 million for FY2002. Through June 2002, states had made available a total of $5.075 billion in DWSRF assistance. In 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a survey of capital improvement needs for water systems which forms the basis for allotting DWSRF funds among the states. The survey indicated that communities need to invest $150.9 billion on drinking water infrastructure improvements over the next 20 years. The107th Congress examined water infrastructure financing issues, and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee reported legislation to increase funding authority for the DWSRF program and to create a grant program for small systems. In the 108th Congress, legislative interest in drinking water matters may continue to be dominated by infrastructure issues. These include the gap between estimated needs and funding, SDWA compliance and affordability issues for small systems, and the availability of DWSRF and other funds for security improvements."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2003-01-07
• Federally Supported Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Programs [Updated March 25, 2003]

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  Although the federal government has played a significant role in developing water quality regulations and standards for municipal and industrial (M&I) water use, it historically has provided a relatively small percentage of the funding for construction of water supply and treatment facilities for M&I uses. Yet, several programs exist to assist communities with development of water supply and treatment projects, and it appears that Congress is more frequently being asked to authorize direct financial and technical assistance for developing or treating water supplies for M&I use. This report provides background information on the types of water supply and wastewater treatment projects traditionally funded by the federal government and the several existing programs to assist communities with water supply and wastewater recycling and treatment.

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary; Copeland, Claudia; Cody, Betsy A.

  2003-03-25
• Safeguarding the Nation's Drinking Water: EPA and Congressional Actions [Updated March 7, 2003]

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  "The events of September 11 raised concerns about the security of the nation's drinking water supplies and their vulnerability to attack. Issues include the readiness of water utilities to prevent and respond to attacks on water systems, steps that can be taken to improve preparedness and response capabilities, and the availability of resources to help utilities enhance drinking water security. After a presidential commission on critical infrastructure protection identified vulnerabilities in the water sector in 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with other federal agencies, water utilities, and state and local governments, began taking steps to improve the security of water systems, although these efforts generally were not targeted to current concerns over terrorism...Since September 11, 2001, EPA has increased efforts to help utilities safeguard facilities and supplies from terrorist or other threats in numerous ways...The 107th Congress took significant steps to improve drinking water security...In February 2003, the White House issued the National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Key Assets, which designates EPA as the lead agency for protecting critical water infrastructure. The 108th Congress may be interested in overseeing implementation of the water security provisions of the Bioterrorism Act and other efforts to improve drinking water security. Regarding funding, the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution for FY2003, P.L. 108-7 (H.J.Res. 2) provides more than $22 million for EPA for water security activities." - Excerpts from Summary

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2003-03-07
• Bioterrorism: Legislation to Improve Public Health Preparedness and Response Capacity [Updated May 8, 2002]

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  The recent anthrax attacks, though small in scale compared to the scenarios envisioned by bioterrorism experts, strained the public health system and raised concern that the nation is insufficiently prepared to respond to bioterrorist attacks. Improving public health preparedness and response capacity offers protection not only from bioterrorist attacks, but also from naturally occurring public health emergencies. In December 2001, the House and Senate each passed legislation (H.R. 3448, S. 1765) to improve the public health system's capacity to respond to bioterrorism. This legislation builds on the programs and authorities established in Title III of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act by the Public Health Threats and Emergencies Act of 2000 (P.L. 106- 505, Title I). While the two bills are similar in many respects, there are several key differences that are being addressed in conference.

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Redhead, C. Stephen; Vogt, Donna U.; Tiemann, Mary

  2002-05-08
• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): Selected Regulatory and Legislative Issues [July 27, 2010]

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  "Much progress has been made in assuring the quality of public water supplies since the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was first enacted in 1974. Public water systems must meet extensive regulations, and water utility management has become a much more complex and professional endeavor. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has regulated some 91 drinking water contaminants, and more regulations are pending. In 2007, the number of community water systems reporting no violations of drinking water standards was 89.5%. Despite nationwide progress in providing safe drinking water, an array of issues and challenges remain. Recent issues have involved infrastructure funding needs, regulatory compliance issues, and concerns caused by detections of unregulated contaminants in drinking water, such as perchlorate and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Another issue involves the adequacy of existing regulations (such as trichloroethylene (TCE)) and EPA's pace in reviewing and potentially revising older standards. Congress last reauthorized SDWA in 1996. Although funding authority for most SDWA programs expired in FY2003, Congress continues to appropriate funds annually for these programs. No broad reauthorization bills have been proposed, as EPA, states, and water systems continue efforts to implement current statutory programs and regulatory requirements. A long-standing and overarching SDWA issue concerns the cumulative cost and complexity of drinking water standards and the ability of water systems, especially small systems, to comply with standards."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2010-07-27
• Hydraulic Fracturing and Safe Drinking Water Act Issues [July 12, 2012]

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  "Hydraulic fracturing is a technique developed initially to stimulate oil production from wells in declining oil reservoirs. With technological advances, hydraulic fracturing is now widely used to initiate oil and gas production in unconventional (low-permeability) oil and gas formations that were previously inaccessible. This process now is used in more than 90% of new oil and gas wells. Hydraulic fracturing is done after a well is drilled and involves injecting large volumes of water, sand (or other propping agent), and specialized chemicals under enough pressure to fracture the formations holding the oil or gas. The sand or other proppant holds the fractures open to allow the oil or gas to flow freely out of the formation and into a production well. […] This report reviews past and proposed treatment of hydraulic fracturing under the SDWA [Safe Drinking Water Act], the principal federal statute for regulating the underground injection of fluids to protect groundwater sources of drinking water. It reviews current SDWA provisions for regulating underground injection activities, and discusses some possible implications of, and issues associated with, enactment of legislation authorizing EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] to regulate hydraulic fracturing under this statute."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary; Vann, Adam

  2012-07-12
• Shale Gas and Hydraulic Fracturing: CRS Experts [August 24, 2012]

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  "The use of hydraulic fracturing--along with advanced drilling methods--has enabled the production of oil and gas from unconventional (low-permeability) reservoirs that were previously inaccessible. This technique is now used on more than 90% of new wells and has resulted in the marked expansion of estimated U.S. oil and natural gas reserves in recent years. The rapidly expanding use of hydraulic fracturing has drawn congressional attention to a range of related issues including potential environmental impacts; state and federal regulatory requirements; implications for domestic oil and gas supplies and energy independence; pipeline capacity and development; and others. The following tables provide names and contact information for CRS [Congressional Research Service] experts on major issues associated with hydraulic fracturing and unconventional oil and gas resource development."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary; Ratner, Michael

  2012-08-24
• Selected Federal Water Activities: Agencies, Authorities, and Congressional Committees [August 7, 2012]

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  "Congress addresses numerous water issues annually. From responding to natural disasters such as droughts and floods, to improving the nation's water resource and water quality infrastructure, and protecting fish and wildlife, many different congressional committees are involved in legislating, funding, and overseeing the water-related activities of numerous federal agencies. Nearly two centuries of such involvement in water resource project development, environmental and resource management activities, and responding to population shifts and changing societal desires have resulted in a complex web of federal activities related to water. Although the responsibility for development, management, protection, and allocation of the nation's water resources is spread among federal, state, local, tribal, and private interests, this report focuses on the complexity of federal activities related to water. It is meant to serve as a guide to federal water-related activities, including the administering agency(ies), the primary or overarching authorities for such activities, and House and Senate committee jurisdictions. In most cases, the primary authorities listed are authorizing statutes and accompanying U.S. Code citations; in some cases, constitutional or other authorities are provided. In providing this analysis, CRS [Congressional Research Service] does not cover every aspect of water policy. Instead, the authors have attempted to cover the major federal activities authorized by Congress that affect water resource development, management, protection, and use in the United States. Similarly, this analysis does not cover every aspect of House and Senate committee jurisdiction affecting water issues. Accordingly, it may be helpful to seek the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices for a more definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water. Further, programs known to have expired and for which reauthorization legislation is pending are noted; however, given the breadth of the report and constant executive and legislative branch activity, it is not possible to provide comprehensive status reports for all entries."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cody, Betsy A.; Schneider, Judy; Tiemann, Mary

  2012-08-07
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Appropriations for FY2013 [September 6, 2012]

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  "As reported July 10, 2012, by the House Committee on Appropriations, Title II of H.R [House Resolution] 6091, the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Act, 2013, included a total of $7.06 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for FY2013, $1.28 billion (15.5%) below the President's FY2013 request of $8.34 billion, and $1.39 billion (16.5%) below the FY2012 enacted appropriation of $8.45 billion. Although the House committee-reported bill proposed an overall decrease for EPA, it included both decreases and increases in funding for many individual programs and activities in the eight appropriations accounts that fund the agency compared with the FY2013 requested and FY2012 enacted levels. Since FY2006, Congress has funded EPA accounts within the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations. [...] Other prominent issues that have received attention within the context of EPA appropriations include the level of funding for implementing certain air pollution control requirements including greenhouse gas emission regulations, climate change research and related activities, cleanup of hazardous waste sites under the Superfund program, cleanup of sites that tend to be less hazardous (referred to as brownfields), and cleanup of petroleum from leaking underground tanks. [...] In addition to funding priorities among the many pollution control programs and activities, several recent and pending EPA regulatory actions continue to be controversial in the FY2013 appropriations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Esworthy, Robert; Bearden, David M.; Tiemann, Mary

  2012-09-06
• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements [October 25, 2012]

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  "This report summarizes the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and its major programs and regulatory requirements. It excerpts, with several additions, the SDWA chapter of CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL30798, 'Environmental Laws: Summaries of Major Statutes Administered by the Environmental Protection Agency', which provides summaries of the principal environmental statutes administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This report includes the drinking water security provisions added to the SDWA by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-188). The SDWA, Title XIV of the Public Health Service Act, is the key federal law for protecting public water supplies from harmful contaminants. First enacted in 1974 and substantially amended in 1986 and 1996, the act is administered through programs that establish standards and treatment requirements for public water supplies, control underground injection of wastes, finance infrastructure projects, and protect sources of drinking water. The 1974 law established the current federal-state arrangement in which states may be delegated primary implementation and enforcement authority for the drinking water program. The state-administered Public Water Supply Supervision (PWSS) Program remains the basic program for regulating the nation's public water systems, and 49 states have assumed this authority."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2012-10-25
• NAFTA: Related Environmental Issues and Initiatives [March 1, 2000]

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  "The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) includes several environment-related provisions, that while limited, were lauded for their inclusion in a trade agreement. However, further environmental (and labor) assurances were needed to secure passage of NAFTA, and ultimately, the negotiating parties agreed to a side accord that promotes trilateral cooperation on environmental matters and includes provisions to address a party's failure to enforce environmental laws. Further to gain NAFTA support, the United States and Mexico agreed to establish a bilateral Border Environment Cooperation Commission and North American Development Bank to help border-area communities finance environmental infrastructure projects. The United States and Mexico also developed a cooperative plan to address a range of border environmental issues; phase two of the plan, the Border XXI Program, began in 1996. Since NAFTA's inception, its environmental implications have remained a subject of debate and legislation. Ongoing issues include NAFTA's possible environmental effects, border funding, and the implementation of NAFTA-related environmental agreements. This report provides an overview of NAFTA's environmental provisions and associated agreements and initiatives, and discusses recent issues and congressional activities. It will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2000-03-01
• Hydraulic Fracturing and Safe Drinking Water Act Regulatory Issues [January 10, 2013]

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  "Hydraulic fracturing is a technique developed initially to stimulate oil production from wells in declining oil reservoirs. With technological advances, hydraulic fracturing is now widely used to initiate oil and gas production in unconventional (low-permeability) oil and gas formations that were previously inaccessible. This process now is used in more than 90% of new oil and gas wells. Hydraulic fracturing is done after a well is drilled and involves injecting large volumes of water, sand (or other propping agent), and specialized chemicals under enough pressure to fracture the formations holding the oil or gas. The sand or other proppant holds the fractures open to allow the oil or gas to flow freely out of the formation and into a production well. Its application, along with horizontal drilling, for production of natural gas (methane) from tight gas sands, unconventional shale formations, and coal beds, has resulted in the marked expansion of estimated U.S. natural gas reserves in recent years. Similarly, hydraulic fracturing is enabling the development of tight oil resources, such as the Bakken and Eagle Ford formations. The rapid growth in the use of fracturing has raised concerns over its potential impacts on groundwater and drinking water sources, and has led to calls for more state and/or federal oversight of this activity. […] This report reviews past and proposed treatment of hydraulic fracturing under the SDWA [Safe Drinking Water Act], the principal federal statute for regulating the underground injection of fluids to protect groundwater sources of drinking water. It reviews current SDWA provisions for regulating underground injection activities, and discusses some possible implications of the enactment of legislation authorizing EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] to regulate hydraulic fracturing (beyond diesel) under this statute."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary; Vann, Adam

  2013-01-10