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Updated March 20, 2019
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
FY2019 Appropriations
Enacted February 15, 2019, Division E of P.L. 116-6,
request included rescissions of EPA unobligated balances in
Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2019, provided
varying amounts: $210.5 million in P.L. 116-6 and $220.5
funding for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies,
million in the request. For FY2018, P.L. 115-141 rescinded
including a total of $8.85 billion for the U.S. Environmental
$148.8 million in unobligated balances.
Protection Agency (EPA) in Titles II and IV combined.
After rescissions, Title II provided $8.06 billion for EPA,
EPA Appropriations Accounts
and Title IV appropriated an additional $791.0 million for
More than a dozen federal laws authorize EPA operations.
EPA water infrastructure program priorities and Superfund
Funding is annually appropriated to EPA among 10
emergency response, removal, and remedial actions at
accounts established by Congress over time: State and
eligible sites. Prior to enactment of P.L. 116-6, Congress
Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG), Environmental Programs
passed multiple appropriations bills during the 115th and
and Management (EPM), Hazardous Substance Superfund
116th Congresses that included funding for EPA. At the
(“Superfund”), Science and Technology (S&T), Leaking
beginning of FY2019, EPA and certain other departments
Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund Program,
and agencies operated under a series of continuing
Buildings and Facilities, Office of Inspector General, Inland
resolutions until an intervening lapse in appropriations after
Oil Spill Program, Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest
December 21, 2018. EPA thereafter operated under its
System Fund, and Water Infrastructure Finance and
shutdown contingency plans until another continuing
Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program. As indicated in Figure
resolution provided funding from January 25, 2019, until
2, the proportional distribution of funding among these
the enactment of P.L. 116-6 on February 15, 2019. Figure 1
accounts has remained similar for more than a decade with
illustrates requested and enacted appropriations for EPA
the exception of FY2009.
since FY2008 through FY2019, including rescissions.
Figure 2. EPA Appropriations by Account FY2008-
Figure 1. EPA Requested and Enacted Appropriations
FY2019 Enacted (Not Adjusted For Inflation)
FY2008-FY2019 (Not Adjusted for Inflation)
Source: CRS using information from the Congressional Record; House,
Senate, and conference committee reports; and EPA’s FY2013
Source: CRS using information from the Congressional Record; House,
Operating Plan. Enacted amounts include supplemental
Senate, and conference reports; and EPA’s FY2013 Operating Plan.
appropriations but does not reflect rescissions.
Enacted amounts reflect rescissions and supplemental appropriations,
including $7.22 bil ion for EPA in the American Recovery and
The STAG and EPM accounts have received the largest
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5).
share of funding, followed by the Superfund and S&T
The FY2019 enacted appropriations is $2.66 billion (43%)
accounts. The STAG account funds grants for water
above the President’s FY2019 request of $6.19 billion and
infrastructure programs, brownfields site assessment and
$38.2 million (0.4%) less than the total $8.89 billion
remediation, diesel emissions reduction, targeted airsheds,
FY2018 enacted appropriations. The FY2018 enacted total
and “categorical” grants to states and tribes for
included $8.82 billion in Title II and Title IV of Division G
implementing federal pollution control programs. The EPM
of P.L. 115-141, enacted March 23, 2018, and $63.2 million
account funds other grants and cross-cutting activities. The
for EPA in emergency supplemental appropriations to
Superfund account funds environmental remediation of
address impacts of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in
priority sites designated for federal attention in coordination
Division B, Subdivision 1, of P.L. 115-123, enacted
with states. The S&T account funds scientific research to
February 9, 2018. P.L. 116-6 and the President’s FY2019
inform agency regulatory decisions.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
FY2019 Appropriations
P.L. 116-6 generally continued the existing federal and state
Titles II and IV, of P.L. 115-141 were nearly the same as
framework for implementing and enforcing requirements
FY2019 enacted. The President requested $1.39 billion for
under multiple federal pollution control statutes with
the Clean Water SRF grants and $863.2 million for the
FY2019 funding for most program activities the same as or
Drinking Water SRF grants but not the Title IV funding.
above FY2018 enacted levels, albeit with some decreases.
P.L. 116-6 did not approve the President’s request to
Title IV of P.L. 116-6 included $65.0 million within the
eliminate certain programs that would have presumed
EPA STAG account for grants authorized in the Water
assumption of these responsibilities by the states.
Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (P.L. 114-
Furthermore, the act did not approve the President’s
322), $15.0 million more than FY2018 enacted amount
proposal to eliminate or reduce funding for numerous
included in Title IV in P.L. 115-141. Comparable funding
programs that provide federal financial assistance to
was not included in the FY2019 request. P.L. 116-6 also
delegated states and other purposes for which there has
provided $68.0 million for the WIFIA account for FY2019
been a joint federal and state role.
($10.0 million in Title II and $58.0 million in Title IV),
$5.0 million more than the FY2018 enacted level ($10.0
Assistance to States
million in Title II and $53.0 million in Title IV) and $48.0
Funding is appropriated to EPA to support the agency’s
million more than the FY2019 request of $20.0 million.
primary responsibilities under multiple federal
environmental pollution control statutes in coordination
P.L. 116-6 continued funding in FY2019 for geographic
with states and tribes. Funding for implementation through
programs that the President proposed to eliminate,
delegated authorities was an issue in the FY2019
including the National Estuary Program, the Great Lakes
appropriations debate. EPA awards categorical grants to
Restoration Initiative, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and
assist delegated states and local governments in
other programs to restore specific water bodies.
implementing and enforcing federal requirements to control
pollution. These categorical grants provide funding for state
Agency Staffing
and tribal implementation of federal requirements, focusing
Although Congress does not set specific staffing levels for
on specific environmental media, wastes, or pollution
EPA in annual appropriations acts, the size and structure of
sources. P.L. 116-6 appropriated $1.08 billion for FY2019
the agency’s workforce was a topic of debate for FY2019 as
to fund state and tribal categorical grants, $50.0 million less
it was for FY2018. As with the FY2018 enacted
than FY2018 (including $50.0 million in emergency
appropriations, P.L. 116-6 did not fund the President’s
funding provided in P.L. 115-123). The President’s FY2019
FY2019 request for EPA “workforce reshaping.” The
request would have reduced these grants to $597.3 million.
conference report (H.Rept. 116-9) accompanying P.L. 116-
6 expressed the expectation that EPA would not
The President proposed to reduce funding to states from the
“consolidate or close any regional offices” in FY2019.
LUST Trust Fund account by more than half from $98.9
million enacted in FY2018 (including $7.0 million in
Fee Authorization
emergency funding provided in P.L. 115-123) to $47.5
Under the Administrative Provisions in Division E, Title II,
million in FY2019. P.L. 116-6 provided $91.9 million for
P.L. 116-6 reauthorized the collection and use of fees under
the LUST account for FY2019, the same as FY2018 less
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
the supplemental funding.
through the end of FY2019. Within the EPM account, P.L.
116-6 provided $5.0 million from fees authorized in the
P.L. 116-6 provided $1.16 billion for the Superfund account
Toxic Substances Control Act for chemical risk reviews.
for FY2019, including $1.09 million in Division E, Title II,
and $68.0 million in Title IV (§429). The FY2018 enacted
Regulatory Prohibitions/Limitations
total of $1.21 billion for Superfund included $1.15 billion
Several EPA regulatory actions received attention as in past
in Title II ($1.09 billion) and Title IV ($63.0 million; §430)
fiscal year debates. Division E, Title IV, of P.L. 116-6
of Division G of P.L. 115-141, and $6.2 million in
prohibited the use of FY2019 appropriations for certain
emergency supplemental appropriations provided in P.L.
actions: permitting of air emissions from livestock
115-123 to address impacts at Superfund sites. The FY2019
production (§416), reporting of greenhouse gas emissions
request proposed $1.01 billion for the Superfund account.
from manure management systems (§417), regulating lead
content of ammunition or fishing tackle (§418), regulating
Titles II and IV of Division E, P.L. 116-6 appropriated
air emissions from small remote solid waste incinerators in
more funding than the FY2018 enacted and FY2019
Alaska (§430), and permitting discharges of dredged or fill
requested levels for water infrastructure programs. Within
material for certain agricultural activities (§431). To date,
the STAG account, P.L. 116-6 provided $1.69 billion for
EPA has not pursued rulemaking in some of these areas
Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) capitalization
(e.g., lead content of ammunition or fishing tackle).
grants and $1.16 billion for Drinking Water SRF
capitalization grants. The FY2019 totals include $1.39
Robert Esworthy, Specialist in Environmental Policy
billion for the Clean Water SRF and $864.0 million for the
David M. Bearden, Specialist in Environmental Policy
Drinking Water SRF in Division E, Title II, of P.L. 116-6
and an additional $600.0 million ($300.0 million each) for
IF11067
Clean Water and Drinking Water SRFs in Title IV. The
FY2018 enacted total for the SRFs included in Division G,
https://crsreports.congress.gov
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
FY2019 Appropriations
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11067 · VERSION 4 · UPDATED