For Immediate Release:
April 1, 2008 |
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Fire Protection and Water Quality at Risk Says Planning and Conservation League
(Sacramento, CA) From water quality to fire protection, the decision Congress makes over the next two weeks on the fiscal 2009 Budget Resolution will have a major effect on California’s environment. Many aspects of California’s environment face a one-two punch, as programs that are already slated for deep spending cuts in the Governor’s budget may also lose significant federal funding.
To retain adequate funding for fire protection, water quality, and other initiatives, the Planning and Conservation League calls on Congress to set the highest possible funding level for federal appropriations for both 2009 and 2010.
California is already being hit hard by state budget cuts. It needs federal funding to keep pace with inflation and replace some of the lost state funding if many key environmental programs are to remain viable. Programs currently slated for significant federal cuts include fire protection services, water quality controls, and ecosystem, fish and wildlife restoration programs.
The House and Senate have already passed separate budget resolutions. The House version has the highest overall appropriations funding level for 2009, but the Senate version would allow more funding for 2010. Members of the House and Senate budget committees meet over the next two weeks to come up with a compromise Budget Resolution, which will be voted on by Congress in mid-April.
Tina Andolina, Legislative Director for the Planning and Conservation League urges California legislators to insist on the highest possible funding levels for both 2009 and 2010. “California policy makers need to support a budget resolution that is in the best interest of California and its environmental programs,” said Andolina. “California is proud of its tradition as a trailblazer for environmental protections and regulations. But given the current California budget crisis, we need federal help to protect our environment, our health and our wellbeing.”
The following programs are some of the most important currently slated for federal budget cuts, on top of deep spending cuts in the proposed state budget:
Fire Protection: California’s budget proposes a $52 million cut along with a reduction of 361 positions from the fire protection program for 08-09 while the President’s proposed federal budget calls for cuts in wildland fire management of $548 million for 2009.
We need increased federal funding to restore some of those positions in order to ensure that we can protect homes and businesses.
Water Quality: California’s budget proposes cuts of $4.3 million and 12 positions from State Water Resources Control Board for 08-09 plus an 80 percent cut in funding for capital outlay and local assistance projects in the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers watersheds. The Federal budget proposes no new funding these watersheds for FY 2009 as opposed to $4 million for FY 2008.
The drastic cuts in funding will severely diminish the capacity of the Control Board to enforce water quality standards and the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority to design, construct, operate and maintain water quality projects to remediate contamination of groundwater in the San Gabriel and Central Basins of Southern California
We need increased federal funding to ensure that Californians have clean and safe drinking water.
Ecosystem and Wildlife Restoration: California’s budget proposes reductions of $1.4 million from the Department of Fish and Game’s Biodiversity Conservation Program. This reduction will reduce funding for the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program which is used to support Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund projects. The Salmon and Steelhead Trout Restoration Account (also used to fund PCSRF projects) has been cut $22,000 for FY 08-09.
The President’s budget also slashes funding for this program by nearly 50 percent to only $35 million.
California is required to provide a 25 percent match of state funds for salmon recovery activities (although California regularly puts up 50% or more). PCSRF and state-matching funds are primarily directed to habitat restoration and protection projects critical to salmon survival and productivity in the coastal regions of the state. These proposed cuts come at a time of an unprecedented collapse of Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River. Increased funding is vital to the survival and management of salmon in California.
“The decisions Congress makes about appropriations levels in the next few weeks will have lasting consequences for California’s health, safety, and environment” said Andolina. “One year of limited fire-fighting capacity can take generations to undo; one year of weakened water quality can affect our health and well-being for years to come. We need our delegation to take the long-term view of what is best for California.”
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The Planning and Conservation League is a nonpartisan, nonprofit alliance of individuals and conservation organizations working at the state, local, and national levels to protect and restore California's natural environment. |
