FR 2021-03756

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has laid out a new plan to distribute funds aimed at improving water infrastructure across various states. This initiative, known as the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants Program, is a requirement of the Clean Water Act. The program's goal is to allocate financial resources to help manage and reduce sewer overflows and stormwater issues. The amount each state receives will be determined using a specific formula created by the EPA, which considers infrastructure demands based on data from the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS), additional information about precipitation, the total population, and urban population levels.

General Summary

The EPA's new formula is designed to ensure that funds are distributed fairly among states to address the needs associated with sewer and stormwater management. Importantly, this allocation accounts for each state's unique needs, taking into consideration factors such as how much rain they typically receive, and their population size. The formula guarantees that no state will receive less than 0.5% of the total available funds, aiming to ensure that each state receives a minimum level of support. Feedback from the public has been incorporated into the final version of this formula to ensure its effectiveness and fairness.

Significant Issues and Concerns

One major concern with this allocation formula is its heavy reliance on data from the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, which was last conducted in 2012. Given that this data is over a decade old, it might not accurately represent the current infrastructure demands of today. As such, there is a risk of improperly allocating funds based on outdated information. Additionally, the provisions in place to ensure that each state receives no less than 0.5% of the total funds might seem arbitrary to some and lead to unintended consequences, particularly for larger states with more substantial infrastructure needs.

The use of technical language throughout the document also presents a barrier for understanding among the general public. This might make it challenging for those who are not experts to fully grasp the implications of the allocation formula. Furthermore, the document does not clearly explain how the specific weights were assigned to each factor in the formula, which could raise questions about the transparency and objectivity of the allocation process.

Public Impact

For the general public, this allocation formula could have significant implications. For those living in areas prone to flooding or sewer overflows, these funds could lead to crucial improvements in local infrastructure. However, if the underlying data used to determine these allocations is outdated, it could result in essential projects being underfunded in areas that need them most.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

From the perspective of state governments and municipal administrations, the formula provides a framework for receiving federal support which is critical to tackling overflow and stormwater issues. They might benefit from increased funding for infrastructure projects, although their specific allocation might not fully align with their current needs due to the age of the data used.

Additionally, environmental advocacy groups and community organizations could view this allocation plan with mixed feelings. While they may appreciate increased funding for environmental and safety enhancements, there could be concerns regarding the fairness and accuracy of fund distribution based on information that may not reflect the present realities of climate and population changes.

Overall, while the EPA's efforts to distribute funds equitably are well-intentioned, the execution of this plan may require further assurances of data accuracy and a review of allocation strategies to best serve the varying needs of all states and territories.