On July 12, the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY2012 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill.  The measure would provide $27.5 billion in spending, a reduction of $2.1 billion below last year’s level of $29.5 billion and $3.8 billion below President Obama’s budget request of $31.2 billion.

Department of the Interior:  The bill would provide $9.9 billion in spending for the Department of Interior, a $720 million reduction from current spending and $1.2 billion below the President’s FY2012 request. 

• The Bureau of Land Management would receive $1 billion, a decrease of $63 million from the current year.
  

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):  The bill would provide $7.1 billion in spending for EPA, a reduction of $1.5 billion from FY2011 level.  Cuts to EPA programs include: 

• The Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund would receive $1.5 billion (down $1 billion from the $2.4 billion they received in FY2011).  These programs help fund state and local water infrastructure improvements nationwide.
• EPA Brownfields:  The bill would provide $23.68 million for brownfields programs which is equal to the FY2011 level and $2.7 million below the President’s budget request.  The bill would also provide $60 million for brownfields infrastructure projects, $39.8 million below the FY2011 level.   The Committee supports the cleanup work and the ability of this program to leverage private investment and spur redevelopment. The Committee is concerned that, given the downturn in the redevelopment and real estate markets, these sites are not being made ready for reuse as evident by the lower outlay rates for the Recovery Act funding.
• Brownfields Technical Assistance Centers.— Within the funds provided for State and Tribal Assistance Grants, $2 million is included for the EPA’s Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities program, equal to the FY2011 enacted level and the FY2012President’s budget request.