Jobs Bill Includes $48 billion for Infrastructure

The US House of Representatives on December 17th narrowly approved a $154 billion jobs bill that includes $48.3 billion in federal funding for infrastructure. The Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010 (HR 2847), passed by a vote of 217-212, also includes $26.7 billion to preserve state and local public service jobs and $79 billion for unemployment insurance, small business loans, health care assistance and other aid. The legislation uses $75 billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) savings to pay for the infrastructure and job preservation investments. The Senate will consider jobs legislation in January.

The House jobs bill also extends the expired surface transportation law, SAFETEA-LU, until September 30, 2010. The extension provides a 100 percent federal share for transportation programs, repeals the prohibition on the Highway Trust Fund from collecting interest on its balance and restores $20 billion to Trust Fund. SAFETEA-LU expired September 30, 2009 and is currently funded through December 18th by a temporary extension.

Separate legislation approved by the House on December 17th, the Defense Appropriations bill, extends SAFETEA-LU until February 28, 2010. The Senate is expected to consider the bill December 18th or 19th.

Following is a breakdown of infrastructure funding included in the House jobs bill.

$27.5 billion Highways
$8.4 billion Transit
$800 million Amtrak
$500 million Airports
$100 million Maritime Administration (shipyard modernization
$2 billion Clean Water ($1 billion CWSRF and $1 billion SDWSRF)
$100 million Bureau of Reclamation (clean water for rural areas)
$715 million Corps of Engineers (environmental restoration, flood protection, hydropower and navigation projects)
$2 billion Energy Innovation Loans (DOE renewable energy and electric transmission projects)
$4.1 billion School Renovation
$1 billion Housing Trust Fund
$1 billion Public Housing Capital Fund

A summary and text of the legislation are posted at http://www.apwa.net/Advocacy/legislation.asp under Appropriations.

Infrastructure Investment Expected to be a Key Component in Jobs Creation Bill

House and Senate Leaders are developing a jobs creation bill aimed at reducing the nation’s 10 percent unemployment rate. Congressional leaders are looking closely at infrastructure investment, a highways funding bill and another extension of unemployment insurance as part of broad package of spending and investment to boost job creation.

Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, pitched Democratic leadership on the idea of using $100 billion in general fund money to pay for highway and transit projects over the next two years. The plan would quickly infuse funds into Public Works projects to stimulate the economy and would give Congress time to debate revenue changes that are needed to pay for a six-year Surface Transportation Authorization bill, currently stalled in the House and Senate.

Meanwhile, the Administration held a Jobs Summit on December 3. The forum was an opportunity for the president and his economic team to hear from chief executive officers, small business owners, labor leaders and financial experts about ideas for growing the economy and putting Americans back to work.

A timeline for the jobs creation package is still unclear, although Congressional leaders say they intend to have a complete package considered in January. The House may consider some elements before the end of the year. The overall size of the package and how it will be financed has yet to be determined.

House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Releases Latest Recovery Act Data

On November 4, 2009 the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure released the latest transparency and accountability information by state and formula funds under the Recovery Act. For the first time, the report includes state-by-state rankings of wastewater infrastructure investments under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund as well as highway and bridge projects.

Complete tables for water infrastructure and highway and bridge rankings, as well as a list of the projects and a detailed state-by-state breakdown on the use of Recovery Act formula funds are available at http://transportation.house.gov/singlepages/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=852

FHWA Supplemental Guidance on the Determination of Economically Distressed Areas Under the Recovery Act

From The Federal Highway Administration

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this guidance to provide additional information on the determination of economically distressed areas under the priority language in the Highway Infrastructure Investment appropriation of the Recovery Act. The FHWA is issuing this guidance after consultation with the Department of Commerce and its Economic Development Administration, which has reviewed the "special need" criteria below.

States shall give priority to projects that are located in an economically distressed area and can be completed within the 3-year timeframe over projects that meet only one of the priorities, provided that such projects also meet the other preferences, conditions, and requirements of the Recovery Act.

States shall exercise due diligence in selecting projects that are to be carried out in and for the benefit of economically distressed areas. In ensuring such due diligence has been carried out, the State should be able to provide information as to how the State identified, vetted, and examined projects located in economically distressed areas and how the State selected projects based on the priorities, preferences, conditions, and requirements of the Recovery Act.

States also shall use this guidance to determine whether any projects that have received Recovery Act funds should be reclassified in order to more accurately reflect the State's investment in economically distressed areas.

Economically Distressed Areas Identified by Unemployment Rate or Per Capita Income

States may continue to use the diagnostic self-assessment tool that FHWA developed to determine if a project is in an economically distressed area in accordance with the criteria set forth in section 301(a)(1) or (2) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (PWEDA) (42 U.S.C. 3161). Section 301(a)(1) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3161) provides that an area is economically distressed if it has a per capita income of 80 percent or less of the national average. Section 301(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 3161) provides that an area is economically distressed if it has an unemployment rate that is, for the most recent 24-month period for which data are available, at least 1 percent greater than the national average unemployment rate. The FHWA's self-assessment tool utilizes a map that depicts project locations relative to economically distressed counties based on unemployment rate and per capita income. The maps may be accessed at:

•Example Map with Projects Added
•HEPGIS General Information Maps

Although the tool is based on a county-level designation, an economically distressed area also may be a region, municipality, smaller area within a larger community, or other geographic area. (See 42 U.S.C. 3161(b).) States may contact FHWA for assistance identifying economically distressed areas under section 301(a)(1) or (2) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3161) for areas other than the county-level designation.

Economically Distressed Areas Identified by a Special Need Circumstance

The following guidance applies to the determination whether an area is economically distressed pursuant to the "special need" provision in section 301(a)(3) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3161). Any such determination made pursuant to this guidance is solely for the purposes of implementing the Highway Infrastructure Investment appropriation provision, and does not constitute a determination of special need for purposes of programs administered by the Department of Commerce under section 301(a)(3) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3161) or other laws.

If a State believes that an area that does not meet the criteria in section 301(a)(1) or (2) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3161) (relating to the area's unemployment rate or per capita income) is nonetheless economically distressed, the State may consider whether such area meets the special need criteria under PWEDA by determining whether the area satisfies one or more of the criteria described below. An "area" may be a region, county, municipality, a smaller area within a larger community, or other geographic area. (See 42 U.S.C. 3161(b).) If a State intends to rely on any of the criteria listed below, it must provide to the FHWA Division Office documentation demonstrating satisfaction of the criteria.

In selecting additional projects, States shall use the criteria described below as another tool for identifying economically distressed areas based on the "special need" provision.

1.Actual Business Closure or Restructuring. An area has experienced an actual closure or restructuring of one or more businesses within the past twelve (12) months, resulting in sudden job losses and

a. For areas with population over 100,000, the actual or threatened dislocation is 500 jobs, or one (1) percent of the civilian labor force (CLF), whichever is greater.

b. For areas with population up to 100,000, the actual or threatened dislocation is 200 jobs, or one (1) percent of the CLF, whichever is greater.

2. Threatened Business Closure. An area has experienced a threat of closure of one or more businesses that results from a public announcement, such as a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice under 29 U.S.C. 2101 et seq. or other credible source of notification, of an imminent closure or restructuring of a firm(s) and

a. For areas with population over 100,000, the actual or threatened dislocation is 500 jobs, or one (1) percent of the civilian labor force (CLF), whichever is greater.

b. For areas with population up to 100,000, the actual or threatened dislocation is 200 jobs, or one (1) percent of the CLF, whichever is greater.

3. Military Base Closures or Realignments, Defense Contractor Reductions-In-Force, or Department of Energy Defense-Related Funding Reductions. Military base closures or realignments, defense contractor reductions-in-force, or Department of Energy defense-related funding reductions.

a. A military base closure refers to a military base that was closed or is scheduled for closure pursuant to the 2005 defense base realignment assessment closure (BRAC) or other BRAC related Department of Defense (DOD) processes. An area or any community located near a military installation being closed or realigned pursuant to BRAC is eligible as a special need circumstance from the date of DOD’s recommendation for closure until five (5) years after the actual date of closing of the installation.

b. A defense contractor reduction-in-force refers to a defense contractor(s) experiencing defense contract cancellations or reductions resulting directly from a military installation being closed or realigned due to BRAC or other BRAC related Department of Defense (DOD) processes and having aggregate value of at least $10 million per year. This includes actual dislocations that already have occurred and threatened dislocations that are anticipated to occur no later than February 17, 2011 (two years after the enactment of the Recovery Act). Defense contracts that expire in the normal course of business will not be considered to meet this criterion.

c. A Department of Energy defense-related funding reduction refers to an area or community located in proximity to a Department of Energy facility that has experienced or will experience a substantial reduction of employment resulting directly from its defense mission change. The area is eligible from the date of the Department of Energy announcement of reductions until five (5) years after the actual date of reduced operations at the installation.

4. Natural or Other Major Disasters or Emergencies. Natural or other major disasters or emergencies, including terrorist attacks, if the area has received one of the following disaster declarations within 18 months prior to the date of the special need determination:

a. A Presidentially Declared Disaster declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); or

b. A Federally Declared Disaster pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1861a(a)); or

c. A Federally Declared Disaster pursuant to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1961); or

d. A Federally Declared Disaster pursuant to the Small Business Act, as amended (Pub. L. No. 85-536, 72 Stat. 384 (1958)).

The State also must determine that the natural or other major disaster or emergency has resulted in major negative impacts on economic development in the area expected to prevail for at least one year from the date of the disaster declaration.

EPA Meets Day 200 Recovery Act Commitment, Promoting Green Jobs and Healthier Communities

From U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 3, 2009

WASHINGTON – Two-hundred days after passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced that the agency has met its goal to initiate or accelerate cleanup work at 20 contaminated Superfund sites from the National Priorities List. Superfund sites are often found in industrial areas hit hardest by the recession and pose unacceptable risks to human health and the environment. The Superfund program received $600 million in recovery act funds and, as of day 200, EPA has obligated more than $400 million. The funding will accelerate ongoing cleanup activities or initiate new construction projects, boosting local economies by creating and maintaining jobs while also protecting human health and the environment. “Two-hundred days after Congress passed the recovery act, EPA projects are up and running and creating jobs across the country. We’re providing real solutions for struggling communities and steadily working to pull our country out of the worst economic downturn in a generation,” said Administrator Jackson. “This is how we build a new foundation for prosperity – by making our communities cleaner, safer places to live, work and grow a business.”

To view a video message from Administrator Jackson on how EPA recovery act projects are creating green jobs and cleaner communities across the country, click here: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/MMwebcon.nsf/HTML/KMON-7VHQ5M?OpenDocument

The swift allocation of recovery act funds has helped spur new jobs and economic opportunities in sites across the country. In New Bedford, Mass., the recovery act is accelerating the pace of the harbor cleanup that was scheduled to take almost four decades. This cleanup, at one of the nation’s busiest fishing ports, will create and save jobs, and generate potential for millions of dollars in economic activity in tourism, development, and shipping in the years ahead. At the Iron Mountain Mine in Redding, Calif. – one of the nation’s most polluted sites – EPA is using recovery funds to halve the time needed for cleanup. Prior to EPA action, more than one ton of toxic materials were discharged from the Iron Mountain Mine into the waters of the Sacramento River every day. The cleanup will create or save close to 250 jobs in the area. Once completed, the local hydroelectric power plant will use the restored waters to produce more clean energy for the area.

In February, President Obama signed the ARRA. EPA manages more than $7 billion in projects and programs that will invest in environmental protection and provide long-term economic benefits to aid recovery efforts across the nation. As of September 2, EPA has obligated 92 percent of its ARRA program dollars. This means that EPA has doubled its obligations and seen a steady increase in “shovels in the ground” projects since day 100 in May 2009.

President Obama has directed that the recovery act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at recovery.gov and for EPA specific projects visit: http://www.epa.gov/recovery

EPA NEEDS TO REVISE ITS METHODS FOR CALCULATING GRANT RECIPIENTS' COSTS

PRESS RELEASE - Recovery.gov

EPA received approximately $72 billion in Recovery Act funding for programs and projects, such as cleaning up superfund sites and helping local communities with water quality and wastewater infrastructure needs. The agency's Office of Inspector General (OIG) looked at how EPA planned to calculate its Fiscal Year 2009 "grant accruals," which represent grantee costs incurred but not yet billed. The OIG noted that EPA planned to combine Recovery-related grants with traditional grants and use the same methodology to calculate the accruals for both. The OIG cautioned that this approach could distort the accrual amount, and recommended that EPA separate out the Recovery grants to obtain a more accurate accrual report.

REGISTRATION FOR RECOVERY RECIPIENTS BEGINS MONDAY, AUG. 17, 2009

PRESS RELEASE - Recovery.gov

WASHINGTON - Recipients of funds disbursed by federal agencies under the $787 billion economic recovery program will be able to register at a government website beginning Monday, Aug. 17.

State and local governments, contractors, universities, non-profits and others that have received a grant, loan or contract of $25,000 or more under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 are required to register on the website, www.FederalReporting.gov. Individual recipients of Recovery funds are not required to register or report.

Registration is the first step in a process that requires recipients to submit spending reports to FederalReporting.gov beginning Oct. 1. Recipients have until Oct. 10 to submit reports, which, among other things, should detail the amount of money they have received and spent, the project scope and timetable, and the number of jobs created. Thereafter, recipients must file quarterly status reports.

Federal Aviation Administration Needs to Strengthen Selection and Award Processes for Airport Improvement Grants

The Recovery Act calls for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to award $1.1 billion in grants to airport operators for projects that improve airport safety, capacity, and security. When reviewing FAA's process for selecting and funding the projects, the agency's Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that FAA selected some low-priority projects that have questionable economic merit—a key Recovery Act requirement. Also, in some cases, FAA awarded money to recipients with histories of grant-management problems, which raised doubts about their ability to administer effectively their Recovery funds. The OIG urged the FAA to revise its guidance on selecting Recovery-related airport improvement projects, and to ensure that funding is awarded only for the highest-priority projects with demonstrated economic merit. In addition, the OIG recommended that FAA provide stronger oversight of the entities receiving grant money.

Economy, Create Jobs and Protect the Environment

EPA Press Release

Contact Information: David Sternberg, 215-814-5548 sternberg.david@epa.gov

(PHILADELPHIA – August 3, 2009) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for the people in Pennsylvania, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded over $93 million to Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to wastewater projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state.

“This funding will allow the state to protect public health and improve water quality while putting hundreds of Pennsylvanians to work,” said William C. Early, acting administrator of EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

The Recovery Act funds will go to the state's Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program provides low interest loans for water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control, and watershed and estuary management. An unprecedented $4 billion dollars will be awarded to fund wastewater infrastructure projects across the country under the Recovery Act in the form of low interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. At least 20 percent of the funds provided under the Recovery Act are to be used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects.

This grant is a partial award of the $155,237,800 available through the Recovery Act to Pennsylvania's Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. The remaining $61,559,483, which includes funding for Green Project Reserve Projects -- $31,047,560 -- will be awarded to PENNVEST later in the year.

Since the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program began in 1987, EPA has awarded more than $26 billion in grants, which states have turned into $69 billion of financial assistance for water quality projects. The revolving nature of the program ensures water quality projects will be funded for generations to come.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) on February 17, 2009 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.

Information on implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Pennsylvania visit http://www.recovery.pa.gov/portal/server.pt/community/recovery_pa_gov/5994.

Information on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program visit http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/.

Schedule and Registration of Webinars for Recipients Reporting on Recovery Funds is Announced

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Recovery, Accountability and Transparency Board announce that Webinars will be held the week of July 20, 2009 to provide information on implementing the guidance set forth in OMB Memorandum M-09-21, Implementing Guidance for the Reports on Use of Funds Pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that was release on June 22, 2009.

Each Webinar will focus on a major section of the Guidance as well as on the technology solution. The intended audience for these webinars includes Federal agency personnel, prime recipients and sub-recipients.

Click here to view the Webinar Schedule and Registration.

OMB Releases ARRA Reporting Guidelines

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has released guidelines for preparing the required reports on the use of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds.

The guidelines contain two supplements - a list of all the federal programs subject to reporting (click here for PDF) and a data model for the report itself (Click here for PDF).

OMB has reserved the site www.federalreporting.gov for Recovery Act report submission, but it is not expected to go live until August 26th.

WEBINAR: Complying with ARRA Buy American Provisions for SRF-Funded Projects

Date/Time: Monday, June 22nd, 2:00PM USA Eastern (Monday, June 22, 11:00AM USA Pacific)

Duration: 2 hours

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides significant funding for states to finance high priority infrastructure projects needed to ensure clean water and safe drinking water. The Act also includes "Buy American" provisions that require Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) assistance recipients of these ARRA funds to use domestic iron, steel, and manufactured goods that are produced in the United States.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will sponsor a webcast from 2:00-4:00 (EST) on Monday, June 22nd to discuss how the ARRA Buy American provisions will affect the implementation of CWSRF and DWSRF projects. This event is free of charge, and is provided for the benefit of SRF assistance recipients and contractors, consultants, and manufacturers involved in SRF projects. The webcast will also include opportunities for participants to submit questions on Buy American issues.

Primary Speakers:
Peter Shanaghan - Team Leader, DWSRF Team, US EPA Bob Bastian - Senior Environmental Scientist, CWSRF Team, US EPA

Audience:
Assistance Recipients/Utilities
Contractors
Consultants
Manufacturers
Topics Will Include:
Categorical (National) Waivers
Project Specific Waivers
Available Quantity and Quality
Manufactured Good/Substantial Transformation Waiver Process Q&A Sessions

To register for this webcast, copy and paste the link below into your Internet Explorer web browser:
https://www.eventbuilder.com/event_desc.asp?p_event=4o12b5j3

Important Note: If you run into any technical difficulties or have any questions about the registration process, please contact EventBuilder's customer care line at 1-800-290-5900.

High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation has publishing its High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program interim program guidance for States and regions to apply for Federal funds for high speed rail as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The guidance provides the application requirements and procedures to guide eligible applicants in seeking funding for high-speed and intercity passenger rail. To view the guidance, please click on the following link: http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2243. For further information, contact Warren Flatau at warren.flatau@dot.gov.

To view a summary of the U.S. Department of Transportation Guidance Overview, click here
To view the Department's Press Release, click here
To view the Department's High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program Guidance, click here

TIGER Discretionary Grants

The US Department of Transportation published a revised notice of funding availability for the $1.5 billion TIGER Discretionary Grant program in the June 17th Federal Register. Under this program, funds will be awarded to State and local governments who submit applications for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure, including highway or bridge projects, public transportation projects, passenger and freight rail, and port infrastructure investments. Applications for TIGER discretionary grants must be submitted by September 15, 2009, from state and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities, MPOs and others. The Federal Register notice revises the interim notice published on May 18, and clarifies that the Department is no longer considering comments on the proposed selection criteria and guidance for awarding TIGER Discretionary Grants. The revised notice is the operative notice of funding availability for the TIGER Discretionary Grants program. The June 17th Federal Register notice is available at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-14262.pdf. Additional information about the program is available at: http://www.dot.gov/recovery/ost/.

Summary of Changes
The revised Federal Register notice makes the following substantive changes to the notice published on May 18 (please read the notice for a complete description of these changes):

• provides additional guidance for evaluating a project’s costs and benefits; specifically, the notice (i) provides a discount rate for discounting future benefits and costs to present values, (ii) identifies guidance on the value of time and statistical lives, (iii) provides sources of information on the social benefits of reducing crash costs, pollutant emissions and other externalities, (iv) provides economic values for various benefits, including the cost of a metric ton of carbon emissions, and (v) clarifies that applicants should present a project’s net benefits, in addition to the project’s benefit-cost ratio;
  
• clarifies that MPOs are eligible grant recipients;
  
• clarifies that for this program “Economically Distressed Areas” is not limited to counties, but could include municipalities;
  
• includes additional guidance about which projects must be included in State or local planning documents to demonstrate readiness to proceed;
  
• clarifies that projects that have negative effects on any of the selection criteria are less likely to receive grant funds;
  
• clarifies that the Economic Competitiveness criterion targets investments that facilitate net new private sector expansion, hiring, or growth, rather than those that result only in moving existing jobs or economic activity to different locations;
  
• clarifies that while applications may be submitted prior to the September 15 deadline, the Department will not evaluate applications or announce projects selected to receive TIGER Discretionary Grants until after the September 15 deadline;
  
• requests that applicants include certain information on the first page of their applications;
  
• clarifies that recipients of TIGER Discretionary Grants and their first-tier sub-awardees are required to have a DUNS number (http://www.dnb.com/) and a current registration in the Central Contractor Registration (http://www.ccr.gov/ ) prior to award of a TIGER Discretionary Grant;
  
• includes requirements guiding the Department’s communications with registered lobbyists which were specified in the memorandum from the President of the United States dated March 20, 2009; and
  
• clarifies that the TDD number is provided for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
  

Energy Efficiency/Conservation Grants – June 25 Deadline!

As we reported previously, the US American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) included $3.2 billion for states, local governments and tribes for energy efficiency and conservation projects under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program (EECBG). A total of $1.9 billion is allocated to eligible cities and counties. This is a block grant program, so for cities of 35,000 or more population and counties of 200,000 or more population (or the top ten highest populated cities and counties in each state, regardless of population) funds are allocated on a formula basis. (Each state’s State Energy Office is typically the State contact point.) In addition, $456 million is set aside to fund other local energy efficiency projects through a competitive solicitation process.

There are numerous “public works” related projects that can be funded under this new program. It is a tremendous opportunity to advance energy efficiency and conservation projects in local communities. If your city or county is allocated funds directly and has not yet completed its application, you are encouraged to do so by the June 25 deadline. For public works departments that may not typically apply for this type of federal grant funding, we encourage you to take this opportunity to reach out to other departments within your city or county and work with them to take advantage of the federal resources that are available.

As examples, the following are cited as eligible activities under the program: transportation programs to conserve energy; installation of energy efficient traffic signals and street lighting; installation of distributed energy technologies including combined heat and power and district heating and cooling systems; material conservation programs including source reduction, recycling, and recycled content procurement programs; reduction and capture of greenhouse gas emissions generated by landfills or similar waste-related sources; installation of renewable energy technologies in or on government buildings, and energy audits and retrofits of residential and commercial buildings.

Comprehensive information on the EECBG program is at: http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/

To see the amount of funds allocated to each State, and cities and counties in each State, go to the following site and click on the desired State on the map: http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/grantalloc.html

For those cities and counties that are not direct recipients, each state is required to use 60 percent of its allotted funds for sub-grants to non-eligible units of government. Contact your State Energy Office for information on criteria for eligibility as it may differ from state to state.

Again, the June deadline for submissions is rapidly approaching. We look forward to hearing about the projects that are implemented in public works departments through the country. For more information, please see the websites noted above; smaller communities may contact your State Energy Office. If APWA can be of assistance, please contact Colene Roberts in Kansas City at croberts@apwa.net.

T&I Committee release transparency and accountability information

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released transparency and accountability information by state and formula funds under the Recovery Act. This information reflects the submissions received by the Committee from States, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and public transit agencies on their use of Recovery Act transportation and environmental infrastructure formula funds.
http://transportation.house.gov/Media/file/ARRA/information%20by%20state%20and%20formula.pdf – April 20, 2009 Information by State and Program.

State Revolving Funds/Waiver of ARRA Buy American Provisions

Notice of the EPA announces the granting of a nationwide waiver of the Buy American requirements under Section 1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for de minimis incidental components of eligible water infrastructure projects financed through the Clean or Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs using assistance under ARRA. The waiver allows the use of nondomestic iron, steel, and manufactured goods in such projects funded by ARRA that might otherwise be prohibited. The action is effective May 22, 2009.

Contact: Jordan Dorfman; EPA, Office of Wastewater Management; 202-564-0614

Additional Information is available at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-12793.pdf

State Revolving Funds/Waiver of ARRA Buy American Provisions

Notice of the EPA announces the granting of a nationwide waiver of the Buy American requirements under Section 1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for eligible Clean or Drinking Water State Revolving Fund projects that solicited bids on or after Oct. 1, 2008, and before Feb. 17, 2009, the date of enactment of ARRA. The waiver allows the use of nondomestic iron, steel, and manufactured goods in such projects funded by ARRA that might otherwise be prohibited. The action is effective May 22, 2009.

Contact: Jordan Dorfman; EPA, Office of Wastewater Management; 202-564-3776

Additional information is available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-12792.pdf

WEBCAST: Using Recovery Act Funds to Finance Green Water Projects - MAY 28 11 AM - 1 PM EST

Did you miss the first offering of the CWSRF webcast on "How to Use
Stimulus Funds to Finance Green Water Infrastructure"? Then please download the archived version of the May 14th webcast, or join us for a repeat offering on May 28 from 11 AM - 1 PM EST!

A download of the slides that were presented during last week's webcast
as well as the archived video recording of the webcast are available online at:
http://216.75.69.10/downloads/stimuluswebcast/GreenProjectWebcasts.htm
Additionally, we will be holding a repeat offering of this webcast on Thursday,
May 28 from 11 AM to 1 PM EST. This will include the same content that
was presented in the first webcast, but will include the opportunity for
attendees to submit questions that will be addressed during several Q&A sessions.

Registration for this second webcast is now open online:
https://www.eventbuilder.com/event_desc.asp?p_event=c84g7u6z

For more information on CWSRF financing, we encourage you to contact
your state CWSRF program. Contact information is also available online:
http://www.epa.gov/OWM/cwfinance/cwsrf/contacts.htm

ARRA Report on Spending

A recent report on the spending and progress of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been released. The report covers the progress in the areas of funding, jobs, state and local fiscal relief, and reports from the field. To read the full report, click here.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Accessibility Reminder

The “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” funds a wide array of projects and programs to jump start the economy and create jobs. The $787 billion measure provides funding for infrastructure, transportation, energy efficiency, education, health care, and aid to cities and states.

It is important that accessibility for people with disabilities is integrated into stimulus projects as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws. The ADA treats accessibility as a civil right and applies to cities and states and to the private sector. In addition, laws such as the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and the Rehabilitation Act cover accessibility in the federal sector and also apply to the recipients of federal funds.

Standards and guidelines issued under these laws govern access to buildings, transportation, streetscapes, outdoor sites, and information technology. They include ADA standards for facilities and transportation vehicles, ABA facility standards, and standards for electronic and information technology in the federal sector covered by section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The U.S. Access Board, a federal agency, leads the development and upkeep of these standards and guidelines and provides technical assistance and training on them to the public. The Board is available to provide further guidance on applying the requirements to Recovery Act projects so that accessibility is properly achieved. The Board also offers supplementary resources on accessible design.

For further information, please visit the Access Board’s website at www.access-board.gov/recovery or contact:

U.S. Access Board
(800) 872-2253 (voice) or (800) 993-2822 (TTY)
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STIMULUS: Little spent so far on energy, environment project

Alex Kaplun, E&E reporter (5/13/2009)

The Obama administration has committed $88 billion from the economic stimulus package in the three months since the law's passage, but little of that has been spent on energy and environment initiatives, according to a White House report released today.

Of more than $1.1 billion the administration has delivered each day since passage of the $787 billion law, most has gone to social programs, the report shows.

In the debate that preceded passage of the law, the White House and congressional Democrats repeatedly touted the measure as a means of jump-starting alternative energy developments and addressing backlogs and underfunding in environmental programs. The package included well over $100 billion for transportation infrastructure and various energy and environmental initiatives.

But the report shows that out of the $88 billion already committed, about $3.6 billion are for Energy Department programs, $1.8 billion for U.S. EPA and $16,000 for the Interior Department.

Under DOE cash committed, the majority, $2.3 billion, has gone for Defense Department environmental cleanups and most of the rest, about $1.1 billion, has gone toward energy efficiency, renewable energy or science research.

Virtually all of EPA's committed money, more than $1.7 billion, has gone toward state and tribal assistance grants.

The Department of Transportation has committed $10.4 billion to roughly 3,000 transportation projection but only a fraction, $34 million, has already been paid out.

The pattern is similar for the various energy- and environment-related agencies. DOE has paid out $22.3 million, EPA just over $1 million and Interior has yet to provide any funds.

Most of the DOE cash has gone toward the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund, while all of EPA's spent money has gone to the Office of Inspector General or Environmental Programs and Management.

As a whole, the federal government has paid a total of $28.6 million, but almost all of that has gone to Medicaid checks and unemployment benefits.

Republicans criticized the administration for failing to quickly spend the money and jump-start the economy. But White House officials said the pace of the spending remains on schedule and the legislation would meet the promised job-saving and job-creation goals promised by Democrats.

Cash for specific projects typically takes longer to spend than direct payments to individuals. Administration officials say they expect spending on infrastructure and other initiatives to increase in the coming months.

"As the pace of the Recovery Act spending increases, we anticipate that by the end of September 2010, there will be 3.5 million jobs in place that have been created or retained and that we will have outlayed the $350 billion that you targeted if not more," Vice President Joe Biden said in a letter to President Obama. Biden's office is in charge of tracking stimulus spending.

The administration has said that it wants to commit 70 percent of the stimulus dollars by the end of 2010.

The White House intends to release a similar report on stimulus spending every three months.

FRA Announces High Speed Rail Workshops

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is holding High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Workshops as the agency begins to implement a vision for developing a cohesive national intercity and high-speed passenger rail network. This vision was set forth in FRA's Strategic Plan for High-Speed Rail (HSR) announced by President Obama, Vice President Biden and U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood, and sent to Congress on April 16, 2009.

The workshops will be led by FRA Deputy Administrator Karen Rae or Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. Through these workshops, FRA is reaching out to the rail community in seven regions across the country to seek input on the Interim Guidance the agency is required to issue on or before June 17, 2009 for the $8 billion in grant funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for the high-speed rail corridors program, intercity passenger rail grants, and congestion grants. The workshops will enable FRA to discuss the HSR Strategic Plan with key stakeholders such as state departments of transportation, regional planning authorities, metropolitan leaders, associations and labor groups (under the ARRA, these workshops exclude the participation of lobbyists). The agency seeks input not only to provide it with your regional vision of high-speed and intercity rail networks, but to enable stakeholders to focus on the critical factors that will make this program a success for generations to come.

The goal of the workshop is to take the first steps toward determining how best to partner together to make the Strategic Plan a reality. During the workshop, you will have an opportunity to share experiences, raise concerns, provide insights, and make recommendations on several key issues and questions, as well as hear those of your colleagues and representatives from a regional perspective. The workshop schedule will include the following:

1. Introduction – 10 minutes
2. Overview of FRA strategic plan and next steps – 30 minutes
3. Amtrak presentation – 15 minutes
4. Q & A – 35 minutes
5. Regional presentation – 30 minutes
6. Break – 15 minutes
7. Working group break-out – 1 hour
8. Wrap-up – 15 minutes

The workshops will be held 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

Southeast Corridor: Charlotte – May 20th
Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel
2800 Coliseum Drive, Charlotte, NC 28205

Florida Corridor: Orlando – May 21st
Marriott Orlando Airport
7499 Augusta National Drive, Orlando, FL 32822

Pacific Northwest Corridor: Seattle – May 27th
Seattle Airport Marriott Hotel
3201 South 176th Street, Seattle, WA 98188

California Corridor: Sacramento – May 28th
Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova
11211 Point East Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742

South Central and Gulf Coast Corridor: Houston - May 29th
Marriott Houston Airport
18700 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032

Midwest Region: Chicago – June 1st
Union Station, Union Gallery (off the Great Hall)
210 South Canal Street, Chicago, IL 60606

Northeast Region: Philadelphia – June 2nd
The Westin Philadelphia
99 South 17th Street at Liberty Place Philadelphia

Due to practical space and time constraints, FRA asks that you only plan to attend the event that is nearest to your location or proposed corridor. Please RSVP at the following Web site: https://survey.deloitte.com/wsb.dll/5644/FRARegistration.htm, and indicate which workshop you will be attending no later than 3 days before the scheduled workshop, after which confirmed attendees will receive additional details regarding the location and program. Those wishing to attend without an RSVP may do so as long as space is available. (Despite the name survey in the URL, the website is not a survey, but rather a means to track the number of individuals who indicate that they will be attending particular workshop sessions.)

In addition to participating in the workshop, the agency is requesting the public to submit written comments to FRA by June 5, 2009 on issues that should be addressed in the Interim Guidance and specific recommendations on the criteria to be used in evaluating grant applications. FRA has created a public docket (Docket No. FRA-2009-0045) for the receipt of written comments. Please visit FRA's Web site at: www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2236 For information regarding the various ways in which you may submit comments to the public docket.

Please note, additional sessions to aid states with the mechanics of applying for ARRA funds will be scheduled after these workshops, as will informational sessions for industry, labor, intergovernmental and other interested parties.

DOT Announces $1.5 Billion in Transportation Grants Available

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced the availability of $1.5 billion in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grants for capital investment in surface transportation projects. The program was created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed into law in February. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that have a significant impact on the nation, a region or metropolitan area and can create jobs and benefit economically distressed areas.

Applications for TIGER discretionary grants must be submitted to US Department of Transportation (USDOT) by September 15, 2009 from state and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities and others. Comments on the criteria must be received by June 1, 2009.

The grants can range from $20 million up to $300 million to support high impact transportation projects. USDOT can waive the minimum grant requirement for beneficial projects in smaller cities, regions or states. The department will require rigorous economic justifications for projects over $100 million, and to ensure responsible spending, the department will require all fund recipients to report on their activities on a routine basis.

The solicitation published in the May 18th Federal Register provides clear criteria for the department to make merit-based decisions on the new discretionary program. Primary selection criteria include contributing to the medium- to long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improving the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems, improving the quality of living and working environments through livable communities, improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the safety of U.S. transportation facilities.

The Department will also give priority to projects that are expected to quickly create and preserve jobs and stimulate rapid increases in economic activity, especially projects that will benefit economically distressed areas.

To view the Federal Register notice, please visit http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a090518c.html. Look under Transportation Department, Notices: Funding Availability; Request for Comments on Grant Criteria; Supplemental Discretionary Grants for Capital Investments in Surface Transportation Infrastructure.

To view the TIGER Fact Sheet, click here.

To view US Department of Transportation TIGER Press Release, click here.

To view the May 18th issue of the Federal Register, click here.

CWSRF Recovery Act Funding Webcast

SAVE THE DATE -- MAY 14, 2009, 2-4 PM EST for a webcast on State Revolving Fund Recovery Act funding for green and innovative projects

Did you know that stimulus money is available in your state for green projects that will help protect water resources? Approximately $800 million is available right now through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund’s Recovery Act appropriation to provide low-cost loans or grants for a variety of green projects, including green stormwater infrastructure and nonpoint source solutions, decentralized approaches to wastewater treatment, water and energy efficiency, and wetland restoration.

Join EPA on Thursday, May 14, 2009 from 2-4 PM EST to learn more about how you can benefit from this funding opportunity. EPA will introduce the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) programs, describe what types of projects may be eligible under the Recovery Act’s Green Project Reserve, and how you can apply for funding for your projects.

This webcast is for anyone in the water quality community that would like to learn more about CWSRF Green Project Reserve funding. Please feel free to forward this notice to potentially interested individuals or organizations.

To learn more about this webcast, or to register and attend, please visit the following website:

https://www.eventbuilder.com/event_desc.asp?p_event=e7f4g7n2

Connections are limited, so if multiple individuals at your organization are interested in participating, please consider accessing the webcast from the same computer.

About the CWSRF: The Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs have been active in every state and Puerto Rico for over twenty years. In 2008, the CWSRF programs made over $5.8 billion in loans for wastewater, nonpoint source, and estuary projects. SRF borrowers have saved an average of 20% compared to conventional financing.

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs received $4 billion dollars in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, and will help create jobs by funding projects to improve and maintain water quality in communities across the country. 20% of ARRA money has been placed in a Green Project Reserve, and is specifically targeted towards green and alternative projects.

Guidance issued on financial assistance awards issued through ARRA

The Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced in the April 23 Federal Register government-wide interim final guidance and standard award terms for agencies to include in financial assistance awards (namely, grants, cooperative agreements and loans) as part of their implementation of sections 1512, and 1605, and 1606 of ARRA. This guidance does not cover all award terms that may be needed on financial assistance awards funded directly or assisted by the Federal Government under the Recovery Act. The focus of this guidance is on implementing Recovery Act provisions that may require greater clarification in order to foster consistent application across the Federal Government.

Under the interim final guidance, agencies would use the standard award terms in their financial assistance awards to require recipients and subrecipients (first-tier that are not individuals) to maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database; to require recipients to report quarterly on project or activity status, subgrant and subcontract information; to notify recipients of the domestic sourcing (Buy American) requirements that apply to certain iron, steel and manufactured goods; to notify recipients of the wage rate requirements that apply to certain projects; and to ensure proper accounting and reporting of Recovery Act expenditures in single audits.

OMB is accepting comments by no later than June 22, 2009. More information is available through the Federal Register by clicking here.

EPA Administrator testifies before T&I Committee

Yesterday Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee about her agency's implementation of ARRA.

Click here to read her full testimony.

EPA Office of Water issues guidance on ARRA Buy American provisions

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Water issued an updated guidance memorandum to regional water management division directors to implement ARRA requirements for clean water and drinking water state revolving funds (SRF) loan programs. The guidance includes definitions to better determine the interpretation and implementation of the Buy American provisions of ARRA, particularly as they related to use of American made iron, steel and manufactured goods in the construction of a project.

Implementation requirements for Buy American waivers include step-by-step process requirements for SRF applicants along with worksheets for such waivers, and foreign and domestic construction materials price comparisons. The guidance also includes an explanation of how EPA will issue national waivers in certain situations and sample Buy American contract language and certification. EPA plans to announce the availability of the guidance in an upcoming Federal Register.

Click here for details.

USACE releases its list of ARRA-funded civil works projects

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will allocate ARRA funding -- $4.6 billion -- to Civil Works projects in the following categories:

- Operation and Maintenance
- Construction
- Mississippi River and Tributaries
- Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program
- Investivations

The full list of projects is available at http://www.usace.army.mil/recovery/Pages/Projects.aspx.

House hearings on ARRA infrastructure spending announced

Bureau of Reclamation and United States Geological Survey
What: Discussion of $1 billion distributed by the Department of the Interior for shovel-ready water projects, including project oversight.
Where: House Water and Power Subcommittee (1324 Longworth)
When: Tuesday, April 28, 10 a.m.
Witnesses: Bill McDonald, acting commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation; Matthew Larsen, associate director for water, USGS; Ron His Horse Is Thunder, chairman, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association; Dan Keppen, executive director, Family Farm Alliance; Rich Atwater, CEO and general manager, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, president WaterReuse Association; and Mike McDowell, general manager, Heartland Consumers Power District

Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Transportation
What: Project report on how DOT is spending $48 billion of stimulus funding and how EPA is spending $6 billion.
Where: House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (2167 Rayburn)
When: Wednesday, April 29, 11 a.m.
Witnesses: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson

White House Office of Management and Budget
What: Discussion of how OBM reviews federal regulations, particularly its role in the scientific regulatory process.
Where: House Science and Technology Subcommittee (2318 Rayburn)
When: Thursday, April 30, 10 a.m.
Witnesses: Rick Melberth, director of Federal Regulatory Policy for OMB Watch; Rena Steinzor, professor at the University of Maryland Law School; and Caroline Smith DeWaal at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Other witnesses TBA.

GAO issues report on state, local ARRA implementation and accountability

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a new report on ARRA implementation: As Initial Implementation Unfolds in States and Localities, Continued Attention to Accountability Issues Is Essential.

Click here to read the report.

OMB issues guidance to help clarifies ARRA "Buy American" provisions

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released interim final guidance to clarify the "Buy American" provisions of the ARRA.

Click here to read the guidance.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announces $84.8M for vital watershed projects

According to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

Recovery Act Assistance Will Help Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the USDA will be sending $84.8 million to state and local governments to improve water quality, increase water supply, decrease soil erosion, and improve fish and wildlife habitat in rural communities as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

"President Obama is committed to improving water quality, creating more dependable water supplies and decreasing soil erosion and this funding will make a big difference in the lives of the people who live in these rural communities," Vilsack said.

Other major benefits include improved community safety and health, flood mitigation, sediment control, and enhanced fish and wildlife habitat.

Click here for full text of the release.

Economic stimulus oversight field hearings announced

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (Chairman Towns, D-N.Y.) will hold a series of oversight field hearings on stimulus spending under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (PL 111-5).

Contact: Lawrence Brady - Democratic Staff Director at 202-225-5051

Date Tuesday, April 21, 10 a.m.

Place Brooklyn Borough Hall; 209 Joralemon Street; Brooklyn, N.Y.

Note Date changed to April 21 from April 20. Time changed to 10 a.m.

Witnesses Scheduled:
William C. Thompson Jr. - comptroller, City of New York

Timothy Gilchrist - senior advisor for infrastructure and transportation, Office of New York Democratic Governor David A. Paterson

Edward Skyler - deputy mayor for operations, City of New York

-----------------------------

Date TBA

Place California location TBA

Note This hearing is planned for early June.

$600M in Recovery Act funding to clean up hazardous waste sites, create jobs

The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued the following press release:

Recovery act funds to accelerate cleanup, boost economy, create jobs and protect human health at 50 federal Superfund sites

Contact: Enesta Jones, 202-564-7873 /4355/ jones.enesta@epa.gov

(Washington, DC – April 15, 2009) EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson today announced $600 million in new funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the cleanup of hazardous waste (Superfund) sites across the nation. In most cases, this recovery act funding will accelerate the hazardous waste cleanup already underway at the sites and fund new clean-up projects. It will also jumpstart the local economy by creating jobs in the site areas.

“EPA has an answer to these challenging economic times,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Under the Recovery Act, we're getting harmful pollutants and dangerous chemicals out of these communities and putting jobs and investment back in.”

The federal Superfund program was created in 1980 to clean up uncontrolled hazardous waste sites that pose unacceptable risks to human health and the environment. Superfund sites are often found in industrial areas hardest hit by the recession. Superfund cleanups are major construction projects that employ thousands of workers nationwide. Since it began, the program has completed construction of remedies at more than 1,060 of the 1,596 sites on its National Priorities List. The Superfund program is implementing new or expanded cleanup actions at 50 sites around the country with recovery act funds.

By starting or accelerating cleanup at Superfund sites, recovery act funding is also increasing the speed with which these sites are returned to productive use. When a Superfund site is redeveloped, it can offer significant economic benefits to local communities including future job creation.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on February 17, 2009 and has directed the recovery act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at http://www.epa.gov/recovery.

More information on the Superfund program: http://www.epa.gov/superfund.

EPA issues guidance for award of Water Planning Quality Management Grants through ARRA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a memo containing information, guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions on how the agency will award and administer Water Quality Management Planning Grants appropriated to the State and Tribal Assistance Grants through ARRA.

Click here to view the memo.

Secretary Salazar announces $260M in economic recovery investments to help California address long-term water supply challenges

According to a press release distributed April 15 by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary:

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, at a press conference with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and California congressional leaders, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the Department of the Interior will invest $1 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) in America’s water infrastructure to create jobs and get the economy moving again. Overall, the Department of the Interior will manage $3 billion in investments as part of the recovery plan signed by the President to jumpstart our economy, create or save jobs,
and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st Century.

Of the $1 billion that Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation is investing in water projects across the country, $260 million will go to projects in California that will expand water supplies, repair aging water infrastructure, and mitigate the effects of a devastating drought the state is currently experiencing. An additional $135 million is available for grants for water reuse and recycling projects; California is emerging as a leader in the development of these projects and is expected to also significantly benefit from this funding.

“In the midst of one of the deepest economic crises in our history, Californians have been saddled with a drought that is putting tens of thousands of people out of work and devastating entire communities,” said Secretary Salazar. “President Obama’s economic recovery plan will not only create jobs on basic water infrastructure projects, but it will help address both the short and long-term water supply challenges the Golden State is facing. From boosting water supplies
and improving conservation to improving safety at our dams, these shovel-ready projects will make a real and immediate difference in the lives of farmers, businesses, Native American Tribes and communities across California.”

Click here to read the entire press release.

Clean Energy Recovery Funding Updates

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) State and Local Climate and Energy Program has launched a Web site compiling EPA analysis of clean energy opportunities within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The site provides information on clean energy opportunities from EPA as well as other federal agencies, descriptions of EPA programs that can help state and local governments maximize the clean energy benefits of Recovery Act funds, webcasts and training opportunities, and links to federal and NGO resources related to the Recovery Act.

To see these resources click on the following link: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local/recovery.html.

"Stimulus Program 101" Webinar now available

On Feb. 25, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and NACE (National Association of County Engineers) presented a webinar titled "Stimulus Program 101: Making It Work for States and Locals." It is now available for replay at
https://admin.na3.acrobat.com/_a55098539/p27746479 (registration is required to view).

A similar version of the presentation was given March 4 for LTAP and members of APWA. It is available at http://fhwa.na3.acrobat.com/p67913180.

President Obama Signs American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into Law

On February 17, President Barack Obama signed into law the $789 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. On February 13, after a relatively short Conference Committee, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate cleared the bill for the President’s signature. The bill provides investments in infrastructure, health, education and energy, as well as more than $280 billion in tax cuts. The legislation also contains no earmarks and establishes oversight and accountability mechanisms. The following is an overview of several key funding highlights included in the bill:

Transportation

Transportation - $1.5 billion for an intermodal discretionary grant program
Highways -$27.5 billion
Transit - $8.4 billion
Rail - $9.3 billion (including $1.3 billion for Amtrak)
Airports - $1.1 billion for the Airport Improvement Program

Environment and Water

$4 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
$2 billion for the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund
$4.6 billion for US Army Corps of Engineers Water Resources Projects
$1 billion for US Bureau of Reclamation Rural Water Projects
$1.38 billion for Rural Water & Waste Disposal Program
$6 billion for Superfund
$1 billion for Brownfields
$3.2 billion for Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Program
$3 billion for Diesel Emission Reduction Act Grants

Senate Passes Stimulus Legislation, 61-37

On Tuesday, February 10, the United States Senate passed an $838 billion economic recovery bill (H.R.1), The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, by a 61-37 vote. The Senate approved the legislation after adopting a crucial compromise amendment crafted by the only Republicans to vote in favor of the stimulus bill, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Arlen Specter (R-PA). The amendment slashed $108 billion from the legislation which had at one point ballooned to over $900 billion.

Funding levels for transportation, infrastructure and water resources remained largely unchanged in the reworked legislation. The House passed its own $819 billion version on January 28, by a 244-188 vote. The following are funding highlights for key infrastructure programs in both bills:

HOUSE:

• $30 billion for highways
• $12 billion for transit
• $6 billion for Clean Water State Revolving Fund
• $2 billion for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

SENATE:

• $27 billion for highways
• $8.4 billion for transit
• $4 billion for Clean Water State Revolving Fund
• $2 billion for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

The next step in the process will be for House and Senate negotiators to meet and reconcile the differences between the two bills. At press time it was still unclear whether a formal conference committee would take place.

With a self-imposed deadline of February 16, for sending a final bill to be signed by the President, House and Senate negotiators have a lot of work ahead of them to reach an agreement. The negotiation process must ensure that any changes maintain the support of at least 60 Senate votes for final approval before the bill can be cleared for the President’s signature.

Senate Democrats Unveil Their Economic Recovery Package

On January 23, the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance released highlights of their version of an economic recovery package, S.1, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Like the House bill, H.R. 1, the Senate legislation totals $825 billion.

The Senate bill allocates a total of $140 billion for Infrastructure and Science. Highlights of the infrastructure component include $27 billion for highways; $1.3 billion for aviation; and $6 billion for both the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. The House version of the bill allocates $90 billion in their infrastructure component. $30 billion is set aside for highways; $3 billion for aviation; $6 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund; and $2 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

The Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus (D-MT) unveiled an original Chairman’s Mark -- the initial bill set out by the chairman for debate -- that included tax-cutting provisions for the recovery legislation. These provisions mirror the finance portion of its counterpart in the House. Baucus’ Mark includes $275 billion in tax cuts and investments. Together, the spending proposals (which include the infrastructure component) in the Senate Appropriations bill and the tax cuts in the Finance Committee measure, make up the Senate’s version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Senate Committees are expected to meet this week to debate and vote on their version of the economic recovery bill. The House is scheduled to vote on the bill Wednesday, January 28 and debate by the full Senate on the bill could be held as early as February 3. House and Senate negotiators would then meet to work out the differences in their respective bills.

APWA will continue to monitor this legislation. For updates and more information please visit APWA’s Advocacy page at www.apwa.net/Advocacy.

House Democrats Release Summary of $825 billion Recovery Plan

On January 15, House Democrats along with President-elect Barack Obama’s economic team, revealed their $825 billion two-year economic recovery plan. According to a press statement released by the House Committee on Appropriations, this package is the first step in an effort to create and save millions of jobs and jumpstart the economy. The proposed package contains $275 billion in economic recovery tax cuts and $550 billion in targeted investments. These efforts include infrastructure, clean energy, education and lowering healthcare costs to name a few. The plan calls for $90 billion in infrastructure investment, which would include:

Modernizing Roads, Bridges, Transit and Waterways

• $30 billion for highway construction;
• $31 billion to modernize federal and other public infrastructure with investments that lead to long term energy cost savings;
• $19 billion for clean water, flood control, and environmental restoration investments;
• $10 billion for transit and rail to reduce traffic congestion and gas consumption:
• $3 billion for airport improvement projects.

Committee markups of the bill are expected the week of January 19. Separate legislation is being prepared in the Senate. Congressional leaders aim to have a bill to President-Elect by mid February.

APWA has posted a Legislative Alert where you can write to your members of Congress and urge them to include infrastructure investment in the recovery plan. To view the alert, go to: http://capwiz.com/apwa/home.

For more information and to view the complete Appropriations Committee summary go to www.apwa.net/DR/index.asp?ID=721.

Obama Urges Congress to Act Quickly on Economic Recovery Package

On January 8, President-Elect Barack Obama presented his case for urgent action to address the nation’s economic crisis with a plan that could total $775 billion in government spending and tax cuts.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan would include investments in infrastructure as a major focal point. Repairing crumbling roads, bridges and other back-logged worthy infrastructure projects will help create jobs and strengthen the economy.

While Obama did not unveil the specifics of the plan, he said his staff and members of Congress were continuing to work out the final size of the proposal and its details. Congressional leaders have said they now expect the bill to be ready by mid-February. APWA will continue to monitor the progress of an economic recovery package. For updates and additional information, please visit www.apwa.net/Advocacy.