Friday’s federal budget deal had to happen, and budgets and programs have to be cut. But, it looks like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the nation’s environmental champion, watchdog and lifeline, is going to take the brunt of the cuts. In California where we are already facing cuts to state redevelopment funds, this move could bring much needed economic development to a standstill.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson at Brownfields 2011
Just last week, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson addressed a packed and eager crowd of attendees at the Brownfields2011 sustainable development conference.
In the face of budget and economic issues, Ms. Jackson stated off the bat, ”There is a reasonable way to scale back and make changes that enable us to maintain our core mission.” The EPA leader then cited a 2010 poll where 95% of respondents believe government has a role to play in protecting health and environment.
The proposed budget would cut EPA’s funds by 16 percent — that’s a $1.6 billion cut for the fiscal year ending September 30. According to Reuters,
Under the budget deal, many other government departments face smaller cuts than EPA on a percentage basis and the Department of Defense actually gets a boost.
The proposed budget cuts can’t be what Ms. Jackson had in mind. And I know the fears of several of the EPA staffers I spoke to at the recent conference are coming closer to fruition.
In this morning’s announcement, Reuters and other reporters were told that some EPA programs will be cut back, with the largest cuts made in revolving funds that help states pay for pollution abatement.
These cuts seem to be an especially hard blow at a time when many cities, like Oakland and San Francisco, and its unemployed, are looking to green jobs focused on pollution clean up, to make it through this economic downturn.
Check out previous article “Oakland’s Brownfield Renaissance: Key to City’s Urban Renewal“
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