[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 116 (Monday, June 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36183-36185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14333]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9823-7]
State Allotment Percentages for the Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund Program
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In this notice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is announcing the revised Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
allotments that will be provided to the States, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, American Indian Tribes and
Alaska Native Villages if the President's budget request for Fiscal
Year 2014 is enacted. These allotments reflect the results from EPA's
most recent Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment
which was released on June 3, 2013. The revised State allotment
percentages will be the basis for distributing the DWSRF program
appropriations to the States for the four years from Fiscal Years 2014
through 2017.
DATES: This notice is effective June 17, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For inquiries, contact Robert Barles,
Drinking Water Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking
Water (4606M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-3814; fax
number: (202) 564-3757; email address: [email protected]. Copies of
this document and information on the Drinking Water Infrastructure
Needs Survey and Assessment and the DWSRF program can be found on EPA's
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Web site at http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/dwsrf/index.cfm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
Amendments established a DWSRF program. Congress directed that
allotments for FY 1998 and each subsequent year would be distributed
among States based on the results of an assessment by EPA of the
relative infrastructure investment needs of the drinking water systems
within each State (SDWA section 1452(a)(1)(D)(ii)) which must be
conducted every four years.
EPA's Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment
EPA's first assessment, which reflected 1995 survey data, was
released in 1997; the second assessment, which reflected 1999 survey
data, was released in 2001; the third assessment, which reflected the
2003 survey data, was released in 2005; and the fourth assessment,
which reflected the 2007 survey data, was released in 2009. The 2011
Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment (Needs
Assessment) was released on June 3, 2013 (EPA 816-R-13-006). The 2011
Needs Assessment was completed in cooperation with State and Navajo
Nation agencies with primacy for implementing the SDWA programs within
their borders. EPA regional offices facilitated the surveying of water
systems serving American Indian (AI) communities and Alaska Native
Villages (ANV). These agencies participated in both the design of the
survey and in the collection of data. The survey examined the needs of
water systems and used these data to determine the aggregate
infrastructure investment needs of drinking water systems within each
individual State and for AI/ANV systems within each EPA Region or the
Navajo Nation.
The survey included all of the nation's 606 largest systems
(serving over 100,000 people) with 598 providing data (a response rate
of 98.7%). For the nation's 8,059 medium sized systems (each serving
3,301-100,000 people), the survey relied on a statistically-
representative random selection of 2,234 with 2,159 systems responding
(a response rate of 96.6%). For the 791 American Indian water systems,
the survey relied on a statistical random selection of 220 with 218
systems responding (a response rate of 99%). For the 165 water systems
serving Alaska Native Villages, the survey relied on a statistical
random selection of 86 systems with 84 responding (a response rate of
97.7%). The survey also sampled the 4 medium and 1 large systems of the
U.S. Territories (with a 100% response rate). For small, non-tribal
water systems (each serving less than 3,301 people), the 2011
assessment extrapolated the findings from the 2007 survey by adjusting
to 2011 dollars.
The sample design for the survey and assessment produces a
statistically-valid State-by-State estimate of the total need, which
reflects the capital costs for all drinking water infrastructure
projects allowed for inclusion in the survey. The 2011 Needs Assessment
also presents capital needs for each State by system size and by
category of need (i.e., treatment, distribution and transmission,
storage, source and ``other'').
In general, an infrastructure project was included in the Needs
Assessment if project documentation demonstrated that meeting the need
would address the public health objectives of SDWA. The total State
need includes both projects that are currently needed and future
projects that will be needed over the next 20 years. Projects to
correct immediate public health threats (e.g., replacing a deteriorated
filter plant) are given the same weight in the assessment as less
critical needs (e.g., replacing a
[[Page 36184]]
storage tank that is expected to reach the end of its useful life in
five years). The Needs Assessment excluded capital projects that are
ineligible for DWSRF program assistance such as dams, reservoirs and
projects needed solely for growth.
The 2011 Needs Assessment found that the total national need is
$384.2 billion (Table 1). This estimate represents the needs of the
approximately 52,000 community water systems and 21,400 not-for-profit
non-community water systems that are eligible to receive DWSRF program
assistance. These systems are found in all 50 States, Puerto Rico and
the District of Columbia; in the Virgin Island and Pacific Island
territories; and on American Indian lands and in Alaska Native
Villages.
Table 1--2011 Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment
20-Year Needs
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Need
Type of need (billions)
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States, Puerto Rico, District of Columbia.................. $375.3
Territories................................................ 0.7
American Indian and Alaska Native Villages................. 3.3
Costs for Proposed and Recent Regulations.................. 4.9
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Total National Need...................................... 384.2
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Note: Numbers may not total due to rounding.
The total national need also includes $4.90 billion in capital
needs associated with recently promulgated and proposed regulations as
identified in EPA Economic Analyses accompanying the rules. Although
these needs are included in the total national need, they were not
apportioned to the States based on the unanimous recommendation of the
State representatives who participated in the survey design. The States
expressed concern that the methods available for allocating the costs
of these more recent or proposed regulations would not yet be
represented in the capital improvement plans of water systems at the
time of the 2011 survey. The total State need, which is the figure that
EPA will use to calculate the State allotments, includes only the needs
of the 50 States, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The 2011
Needs Assessment estimates that the total State need is $375.3 billion.
Allocation Method
On October 31, 1996, EPA solicited public comment on six options
for using the results of the first Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs
Survey and Assessment to allocate DWSRF program funds to the States (61
FR 56231). On March 18, 1997, EPA announced its decision to allocate
DWSRF program funds for fiscal years 1998 through 2001 appropriations
based on each State's proportional share of the total eligible needs
for the States as derived from the 1995 Needs Assessment (62 FR 12900).
EPA used this same method when allocating DWSRF program funds for:
fiscal years 2002 through 2005, utilizing the results of the 1999 Needs
Assessment; fiscal years 2006 through 2009, utilizing the results of
the 2003 Needs Assessment; and fiscal years 2010 through 2013 utilizing
the results of the 2007 Needs Assessment. EPA has made the
determination that it will continue to use this method for allocating
DWSRF program funds for fiscal years 2014 through 2017 appropriations
utilizing the results of the 2011 Needs Assessment. The funds available
to the States will be the level of funds appropriated by Congress less
any national set-aside such as the set aside for American Indian and
Alaska Native Village water systems. Of the remaining funds available
to States, the SDWA includes a specific combined allocation for the
Virgin Island and Pacific Island territories and a minimum for the
District of Columbia. Each State (including Puerto Rico) will receive
an allotment of DWSRF program funds based on each State's proportional
share of the total combined need for all States and the District of
Columbia ($375.3 billion) provided that each State receives a minimum
allocation of one percent of the funds available to States, as required
by the SDWA. The 2011 Needs Assessment found that 17 States, Puerto
Rico and the District of Columbia each had less than one percent of the
total national need; for 2014 to 2017, each of these will be eligible
for one percent of the annual DWSRF funds made available to States (or,
in aggregate, 19 percent of the total DWSRF funds made available to
States).
Allocation of Funds
Table 2 contains each State's expected DWSRF program allotment
based on the President's budget request for FY 2014. The national set-
aside for Fiscal Year for American Indian and Alaska Native Village
water systems is 2.0 percent of the total appropriation or $16,340,000
for FY 2014 under the President's budget request. If funds are
appropriated for the DWSRF program at the level of $817,000,000, the
total funds available to the States, the District of Columbia and
Territories would then equal $798,660,000. Because the percentages are
based on allotting all available funds annually to the States
regardless of the year in the four-year cycle, they can be used for
general planning purposes for the entire four-year cycle. Once the 2014
and subsequent year appropriated amounts and any national set-asides
are known, a State's allotment can be estimated by subtracting any
national set-aside from the total funds available for allotment and
then applying the appropriate percentage shown below. EPA will annually
notify each State of its allotment from a specific fiscal year's
appropriation after the final budget has been passed.
Table 2--DWSRF State Percentages and Dollar Allotments Based on the
President's Budget Request for FY 2014 and the 2011 Needs Assessment
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State FY 2014 Allotment 2014 Allotment (%)
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Alabama......................... $15,253,000 1.91
Alaska.......................... 7,987,000 1.00
Arizona......................... 14,419,000 1.81
Arkansas........................ 12,220,000 1.53
California...................... 75,142,000 9.41
Colorado........................ 13,901,000 1.74
Connecticut..................... 8,093,000 1.01
Delaware........................ 7,987,000 1.00
Florida......................... 29,211,000 3.66
Georgia......................... 17,413,000 2.18
Hawaii.......................... 7,987,000 1.00
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Idaho........................... 7,987,000 1.00
Illinois........................ 33,328,000 4.17
Indiana......................... 12,955,000 1.62
Iowa............................ 11,945,000 1.50
Kansas.......................... 9,102,000 1.14
Kentucky........................ 12,434,000 1.56
Louisiana....................... 10,950,000 1.37
Maine........................... 7,987,000 1.00
Maryland........................ 13,555,000 1.70
Massachusetts................... 14,846,000 1.86
Michigan........................ 24,858,000 3.11
Minnesota....................... 14,291,000 1.79
Mississippi..................... 8,270,000 1.04
Missouri........................ 16,123,000 2.02
Montana......................... 7,987,000 1.00
Nebraska........................ 7,987,000 1.00
Nevada.......................... 11,390,000 1.43
New Hampshire................... 7,987,000 1.00
New Jersey...................... 15,195,000 1.90
New Mexico...................... 7,987,000 1.00
New York........................ 38,334,000 4.80
North Carolina.................. 18,686,000 2.34
North Dakota.................... 7,987,000 1.00
Ohio............................ 22,200,000 2.78
Oklahoma........................ 12,868,000 1.61
Oregon.......................... 11,344,000 1.42
Pennsylvania.................... 25,536,000 3.20
Puerto Rico..................... 7,987,000 1.00
Rhode Island.................... 7,987,000 1.00
South Carolina.................. 7,987,000 1.00
South Dakota.................... 7,987,000 1.00
Tennessee....................... 7,987,000 1.00
Texas........................... 57,746,000 7.23
Utah............................ 8,334,000 1.04
Vermont......................... 7,987,000 1.00
Virginia........................ 13,232,000 1.66
Washington...................... 17,825,000 2.23
West Virginia................... 7,987,000 1.00
Wisconsin....................... 13,928,000 1.74
Wyoming......................... 7,987,000 1.00
District of Columbia............ 7,987,000 1.00
U.S. Territories *.............. 11,980,000 1.50
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Total Funds Available to the 798,660,000 ..................
States, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, and
U.S. Territories...........
American Indian & Alaska Native 16,340,000 ..................
Water Systems..................
Monitoring for Unregulated 2,000,000 ..................
Contaminants...................
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Total SRF Appropriation..... 817,000,000 ..................
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* Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands.
Dated: June 6, 2013.
Peter C. Grevatt,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2013-14333 Filed 6-14-13; 8:45 am]
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