Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released guidance to states to make sure funding for clean water in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is directed to disadvantaged communities. The guidance recommends that these communities receive at least 40 percent of the $43 billion designated for Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Loan Funds. This effort will help make progress in meeting President Biden’s Justice40 commitment to target 40 percent of climate and clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities. In response, Cathleen Kelly, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This guidance helps target long-overdue funding for clean water and drinking water to the communities that need it most—those dealing with high levels of lead and other toxic pollutants in their water. These funds are essential to replacing lead service lines and reducing the amount of “forever chemicals” that build up in drinking water systems and threaten public health and safety. This funding will help these communities find solutions to gain access to clean and safe drinking water. We look forward to working with the EPA and our environmental justice partners and others to ensure that states are held accountable for delivering this lifesaving funding to the communities facing the greatest needs and threats.
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].