A.G, Schneiderman Highlights Devastating Impacts of President Trump’s Environmental Budget Cuts- Which Threaten to Delay and Obstruct NY
Environmental Projects
Brooklyn- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today highlighted the catastrophic impact President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) could have crossed New York State.
Standing along the Gowanus Canal, which is designated federal Superfund site, Attorney General Schneiderman emphasized how the significant loss of EPA money and decrease
in the agency’s staff would potentially slow, stop, or even undo environmental protection all over the state. Under President Trumps budget “blueprint” released last
Thursday, the EPA would battle with some of the biggest cuts, as funding for the agency would be abridged by 31 percent or $2.6 billion- bringing the EPA’s funds to $5.7 billion,
its lowest level in 4 years when attuned for inflation, and eliminating more than 3200 jobs and 50 programs.
President Donald Trump’s EPA budget cuts include:
A 45% cut in Categorical Grants to states that help develop and implement various water, air, waste, pesticides, and toxic substances programs.
A 50% reduction in the EPA’s Office of Research and Development.
The total elimination of the $427 million funding of the Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative and other geographic programs.
The total elimination of funding for the Clean Power Plan, international climate change programs, climate change research and partnership programs, and
“related efforts,” totaling $100 million.
A 43% reduction in Superfund site cleanup funding.
A 30% decrease in the EPA’s enforcement and compliance budget.
The total elimination of funding for 50 EPA programs totaling $347 million,
including Energy Star, a voluntary labeling program, created in 1992, designed to
identify energy-efficient, cost-saving home appliances, lighting, and electronics
for consumers.
“President Trump’s proposed budget cuts would have a devastating impact on New York- delaying and obstructing environmental projects around the state. Decades of
hard work have helped clean up New York’s air, water, and environment. But President Trump’s budget threatens to unravel those gains and send us back to the
bad old days of chocking smog and rampant pollution. As we’ve made clear; if the trump administration won’t meet its legal obligations to ensure basic access to a
clean, safe, and healthy environment, we won’t hesitate to act to protect New Yorkers.”
The 43 percent cuts in Superfund site clear out in proposed funding could translate to a decrease in staff and administrative funding- and weaken the agency’s capability
to oversee and manage the cleanups- stopping or slowing the vital progress made at 85 federal Superfund sites across New York State.
The proposed budget makes a great amount of cuts which not only puts the water quality in danger but also the air quality which can alter our health. Hurricane Irene
in 2011 poured approximately 11 inches of rain on the eastern Adirondack, Champlain Valley, Hudson Valley, and Catskills in just a single day, which cause
disasters in 31 countries. Further analysis found that the warning of the ocean and the higher sea level lengthened the flooding of Superstorm Sandy.
Earlier this month, Attorney General Schneiderman sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney and EPA Administrator Scott
Pruitt, emphasizing the impact EPA budget cuts cam have.
“The EPA is a vital institution that protects New Yorkers’ drinking water, helps remediate Superfund sites, such as the three located in New York’s 7th Congressional
district, prevents our air from being polluted and can help our nation address the perils of climate change,” said Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY). “Slashing these
programs will be devastating for our nation, our City and the public health. We must speak with one voice in collectively opposing the Trump Budget’s deep cuts to our
nation’s foremost environmental agency.”
“The proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency are absolutely unacceptable and should be opposed across party lines, demographics and
generations. We all depend on the work the EPA does to protect our environment both in its efforts to limit the effects of climate change and simply keep our water,
air and land clean. In my district, EPA funding has been absolutely vital in cleaning up the Gowanus Canal after years of neglect. This work cannot be taken for granted and
we should all be alarmed by efforts to slash the EPA’s funds,” said State Senator Velmanette Montgomery.
“The Trump administration's proposed budget cuts to vital services and agencies are even more devastating than anyone could have anticipated. Proposed cuts to the
EPA budget would have serious environmental and public health consequences on communities like ours in Brooklyn, where the Gowanus Canal was added to theSuperfund program’s priority list because of its historic levels of contamination,” said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon. "Thanks to Attorney General Schneiderman for his leadership on this issue which is critical to ensuring that New York is safe and clean for future generations."
Council Member Costa Constantinides, Chair of the Council's Environmental Protection Committee, said, “The Trump administration's proposed 30% budget cut
to the Environmental Protection Agency, the largest cut to any agency, will have devastating effects in New York and across our country. The cuts are a direct attack
on our country's ability to combat climate change and protect public health.
Decreased funding to renewable energy programs and regulating emissions will lead to more pollution and public health risks associated with low air quality including
high asthma rates. Despite what this administration pretends, climate change is real and a threat to our country. New York will to continue as a role model on
environmental protection by fighting for more rigorous emissions standards and by encouraging use of renewable energy. I thank Attorney General Eric Schneiderman
for his leadership on this important public health issue.”
“President Trump’s complete disregard for our environment, safety, and futures are evident in his egregious proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection
Agency,” said Council Member Brad Lander from District 39. “The EPA’s Gowanus Superfund cleanup will dredge toxic sludge, reduce combined sewer overflows,
and restore habitat in the Gowanus Canal. We have the opportunity to move from a tarnished legacy of two centuries of industrial pollution, to a community that
reduces its impact on the planet. These proposed cuts might threaten our opportunity to do this — and beyond that, these cuts will affect our overall ability
to protect clean water sources, clean air, and livable environments. This is why we must condemn the Trump Administration for their baseless attacks and rally our
support behind the EPA.”
“This budget is a raw deal for New Yorkers. Drastic cuts to the EPA, from staff reductions, program eliminations, to the Superfund program, will have a chilling
effect on New York just at the time when real progress is being made to restore the city’s vulnerable waterways,” said Paul Gallay, Hudson Riverkeeper. “In Brooklyn and
Queens, the cleanups of Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek, with a century-old history of oil, coal tar, raw sewage, and toxic industrial pollution dumping, would be
threatened. We must stand together to protect progress in environmental remediation, restoration, and resiliency.”
“We salute AG Schneiderman for standing up to protect New Yorkers”; health and safety,” said Roland Lewis, President and CEO, Waterfront Alliance. “The White House’s reckless budget blueprint slashes nearly 30 percent from the EPA, which would have devastating environmental and economic consequences for the New York metropolitan region. By hampering the implementation of Superfund and brownfield cleanup programs and eliminating necessary research on our changing climate, these cuts would not only have adverse impacts to human health, but also suffocate the urban renaissance that environmental regulations such as the Clean Water Act and others have helped shepherd.”
