[greenyes] EPA Leavitt Testimony

["Peter Anderson" <anderson@no.address>]

CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY
SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
FISCAL 2005 BUDGET: EPA PROGRAMS

March 10, 2004



TESTIMONY-BY: MICHAEL O. LEAVITT, ADMINISTRATOR
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY





".the President's budget request for EPA reflects the Agency's commitment to
cleaning our air, cleansing our water, and protecting our land efficiently
and effectively, while sustaining economic growth. The request promotes
EPA's goals by facilitating collaboration, harnessing leading-edge
technology, and creating market-based incentives for environmental
protection."



"Clear Skies legislation would slash emissions of three power plant
pollutants--nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and mercury--by 70 percent. Such
emissions cuts are an essential component of improving air quality and thus
environmental and human health."



"The core of EPA's climate change efforts are government/industry
partnership programs designed to capitalize on the tremendous opportunities
available to consumers, businesses, and organizations to make sound
investments in efficient equipment and practices."



"EPA is also advancing water quality trading in voluntary partnerships on a
watershed basis. It capitalizes on economies of scale and cost differences
among sources. Trading allows one source to meet its regulatory obligations
by using pollutant reductions gained by another source and provides
incentives for voluntary reductions at a reduced cost to all."



"This budget continues EPA's commitment to clean up toxic waste sites with
$1.4 billion for Superfund. This reflects a $124 million increase over the
FY 2004 appropriated level for Superfund's remedial program, which will
allow for 8-12 additional construction starts in 2005 and a similar number
of additional completions by 2006."



"The Great Lakes are the largest system of fresh surface water on Earth,
containing roughly 18 percent of the world's supply. The Great Lakes basin
also is home to more than one-tenth of the population of the United States,
one-quarter of the population of Canada, and heavy concentrations of
industry. Over the years, industrial development has contaminated sediments
throughout large areas of the lakes with toxics such as polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals, putting large populations and the
tremendous water resource at risk. EPA's Great Lakes Legacy program provides
funding to remediate contaminated sediments, keeping them from entering the
food chain where they may cause adverse effects to human health and the
environment. In 2005, this Administration will demonstrate its commitment to
the health and well-being of the region and its citizens by proposing to
fund the Great Lakes Legacy program at $45 million, nearly five times
greater than previous levels."



"The Agency's implementation of FQPA focuses on science-driven policies for
pesticides review, seeks to encourage the development of reduced risk
pesticides to provide an alternative to the older versions on the market,
and works to develop and deliver information on alternative
pesticides/techniques and best pest control practices to pesticide users.
Reassessing existing tolerances ensures food safety, especially for infants
and children, and ensures that all pesticides registered for use meet
current health standards."



"The Agency uses a "smart" enforcement approach, employing a mix of
compliance assistance, incentives and monitoring strategies, supported by
strong, effective civil and criminal enforcement and litigation teams. This
"smart" approach maximizes the use of the Agency's resources and personnel,
and allows us to quickly and effectively adapt both to emerging
environmental threats and to changes in law and policy."



"Sound science is a fundamental component of EPA's work. The Agency has long
relied upon science and technology to help discern and evaluate potential
threats to human health and the natural environment. Much of our
decision-making, policy, and regulatory successes stem from reliance on
quality scientific research aimed at achieving our environmental goals. In
FY 2005 EPA will strengthen the role of science in decision-making by using
sound scientific information and analysis to help direct policy and
establish priorities. This budget request includes $572 million for the
Office of Research and Development to develop and apply strong science to
address both current and future environmental challenges. The budget request
includes important new or increased research efforts in the following areas:
computational toxicology, data quality, and EPA's Integrated Risk
Information System (IRIS)--an EPA database of Agency consensus human health
information on environmental contaminants."



"The request demonstrates EPA's commitment to our principal
objectives--safeguarding and restoring America's air, water, and land
resources--by facilitating collaboration, harnessing leading-edge
technology, creating market-based incentives, and ultimately finding a
better way for environmental protection."



______________________________
Peter Anderson
RECYCLEWORLDS CONSULTING Corp
4513 Vernon Blvd. Suite 15
Madison, WI 53705
Ph:    (608) 231-1100
Fax:   (608) 233-0011
Cell    (608) 438-9062
email: anderson@no.address