More Details About Biden’s FY 24 Budget Are Released
The Biden Administration has released more details about the FY 2024 budget request and its priorities for the Great Lakes region. The budget request, officially released earlier this month, guides Congress as it moves forward with the annual FY 2024 appropriations bills.
Key funding level requests for the region in the President's budget include:
$368 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI);
$3 million for the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study;
$13.8 million for the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Dispersal Barriers ;
$40.3 million for the St. Lawrence Great Lakes Seaway Development Corporation;
$5 million for the Great Lakes Authority; and
$55 million for a Great Lakes icebreaker.
NEMWI will continue to monitor the federal budgetary process for FY 2024 and will provide updates as warranted.
EPA Releases New “Forever Chemicals” Proposal
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first-ever limits to PFOA and PFOS, two chemicals often called “forever chemicals.” EPA also proposed regulating four additional forever chemicals as a group.
PFOA and PFOS would be capped at 4 parts per trillion, a minuscule level near the limit of reliable detection for monitoring equipment. Additionally, the chemicals PFNA, PFBS, PFHxS, and GenX would be regulated together under a “hazard index,” which is used for assessing the health risk of chemical mixtures.
While public health experts strongly applauded the proposed rule, water utilities cautioned that the proposal would increase water costs, citing the expense of updating water treatment equipment. Utilities have argued that more has to be done to prevent the initial contamination of water before it has to be treated.
The proposal is in draft form, and public comments will be accepted for at least 60 days. A final rule is expected next year.
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