Download RE: FY 2015 Funding for Drinking Water Research at EPA

DATE
The Honorable ______________________
Washington, DC
RE: FY 2015 Funding for Drinking Water Research at EPA
Dear Congressman/Senator _________________________
As Congress begins work on the FY2015 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, I
want to urge you to support as a priority the continued funding for drinking water and wastewater-related
research at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with local wastewater and drinking
water utilities. For over 20 years, Congress has supported this extramural research at nonprofit water industry
foundations that sponsor competitive research into source water protection, water quality, and water
infrastructure. Water and wastewater-related research should remain a high priority as the nation looks at the
staggering cost estimates for replacing aging water infrastructure and contaminant-removal compliance costs.
My organization steadfastly supports and benefits from the respective research conducted through the Water
Research Foundation (WaterRF) and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF). This research
helps ensure that sound science governs compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act
mandates, regulations, and policies. In 2013, WERF and WaterRF successfully competed for this nationwide
grant nationwide to partner on nutrient management research, which is vital to our industry.
Given the ban on specific earmarks, we have worked with our supporters on Capitol Hill to develop a
carefully defined competitive program for nonprofit organizations who conduct water and wastewater
research of national significance. As a testament to the importance of this research, our draft language was
included in both the House and Senate versions of the FY 2014 bill and was included in the final FY2014
Omnibus Appropriations Act (H.R. 3547).
We respectfully request the same language again be inserted into the FY 2015 Interior, Environment and
Related Agencies bill as follows:
“ Research National Priorities: The bill provides $5,000,000, which shall be used for
extramural research grants, independent of the Star Grant program, to fund high-priority
water quality and availability research by not-for-profit organizations who often partner with
the Agency. Funds shall be awarded competitively with priority given to partners proposing
research of national scope and who provide a 25 percent match. The agency is directed to
allocate funds to grantees within 180 days of enactment of this Act.”
The program prioritizes funding for a cost-shared, competitive grant program within monies already being
provided to the U.S. EPA Office of Research & Development budget. This research program ensures that
critical water and wastewater-related research will continue to meet the needs identified by the local agencies
charged with meeting federal mandates.
We thank you for your attention to this matter of important national, state, and local significance. If you have
any questions or comments, please contact me.
Sincerely,