Spending bill cuts EPA funding, delists wolves, limits funding for Interior 'wild lands' policy

Legislation to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year would cut the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) funding by $1.49 billion when compared to enacted fiscal 2010 levels.

Overall, the continuing resolution (CR) would fund energy and water programs at $31.8 billion, a 5 percent reduction from enacted fiscal 2010 levels. It would also fund interior and environment programs at $29.6 billion, an 8.1 percent cut from 2010 levels.

Top Republicans and Democrats, working with the White House, reached a last-minute deal on the spending bill late Friday night. The legislation, released early Tuesday morning by House Republicans, puts meat on the bones of the agreement.

As part of a final agreement, House Republicans agreed to drop a series of policy riders that would place restrictions on environmental regulations. Republicans also compromised on the level of cuts to EPA's budget. A Republican spending bill would have cut the agency's budget by $3 billion.

But the bill would delist wolves as an endangered species in states that have wolf management policies in place, including Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington state and Utah. Delisting wolves has been a major political issue in Western states, but environmental and conservation groups have blasted the proposal.

The legislation would also limit the use of funds for the Interior Department's so-called "wild lands" policy, which would allow the administration to protect land that has not been designated as wilderness. House Republicans have railed against the policy, which was unveiled in December, arguing that it's an effort to circumvent Congress’s authority and raising fears that it could be used to make lands off limits to oil-and-gas drilling.

The bill cuts funding for climate change-related programs by $49 million when compared to enacted fiscal 2010 levels. This includes blocking funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's climate service and eliminating President Obama's energy and climate change adviser, or "climate czar." Carol Browner, who previously held the position, has left the White House.

Here's more on the energy and water provisions in the bill, via a summary released by the House Appropriations Committee:

"The Energy and Water section is funded at $31.8 billion in the CR. This is a 10% reduction – or $3.6 billion – from the President’s fiscal year 2011 request, and a 5% reduction – or $1.7 billion – from fiscal year 2010 levels. These significant cuts further the House Republican commitment to deficit reduction and reining in the size of government, while at the same time protecting American security, providing support for private sector growth, and promoting a balanced national energy supply.

"The bill funds the Army Corps of Engineers at the President’s request level of $4.9 billion, supports existing applications for renewable energy loan guarantees at the Department of Energy, and provides a $697 million (7%) increase for the National Nuclear Security Administration to ensure adequate funding for critical components of our national defense."

And here's more on the interior and environment provisions in the bill:

"The CR includes $29.6 billion in discretionary funding in the Interior and Environment section of the bill, which is 8.1%, or $2.62 billion, below the fiscal year 2010 enacted level and 8.5%, or $2.8 billion, below the President’s request.

"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reduced by $1.6 billion, a 16% decrease from last year’s level. The cuts to the EPA alone represent 61% of the bill’s reduction compared to last year’s level. Funding levels for Land and Water Conservation Fund (land acquisition) programs are reduced $149 million (-33%), climate change funding bill-wide is cut by $49 million (-13%), and funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities is reduced by a combined $25 million from last year’s levels."

Overall, the bill would cut $40 billion from current spending through the end of September. Here's more on the bill.