New York comment

Representatives of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation wrote the following when asked to provide or verify figures regarding the state's enforcement of the Clean Water Act:The most important federal funding to support enforcement and permitting programs is known as "Clean Water Act Section 106" money. These funds are provided to the State and are not earmarked to specific EPA items. In New York, however, we have an extensive annual work plan we agree to with EPA that describes the specific work output promised by DEC's Division of Water -- known as the "performance partnership agreement."CWA Section 106 funding was $216 million nationally in 2006. In 2008 it was $221.7 million. New York's Section 106 funding has gone up 11% in non-inflation adjusted dollars between 2003 and 2008. During that time the average cost of a DEC staffer rose 23%. Almost all Section 106 money is now used for staff. EPA's national office did a study in 2002 and found an $800 million funding gap for Section 106 type programs (some 45 states are authorized CWA entities).The House re-authorization amount for Section 106 funding (remember this is authorized, not necessarily appropriated) was passed at $300 million per year for the next 5 years. This is not yet final, however. (Congressman Norm Dix of Washington State is the lead on appropriations, Congressman James Oberstar of Minnesota is the lead on authorization). The Environmental Council of ...