BUDGET CUTS MAY PROMPT STATES TO RETURN DELEGATED PROGRAMS TO EPA

Sweeping funding cuts for state programs in the White House's proposed budget for fiscal year 2007 are pushing states to consider returning to EPA the control, and related cost, of some environmental programs, including air toxics programs under the Clean Air Act. One state official notes that, while EPA is facing a nearly $310 million budget cut in FY07, funding for state environmental programs was cut by $416 million. "Effectively, EPA is growing at the expense of state and local...