Projects are slowly getting under way as economic stimulus dollars move from the states to local governments. For example, Pima County, Ariz., broke ground on a treatment plant interconnect last week, a project that is receiving stimulus funds. The EPA is doing its part to streamline the funding process.

On June 2, EPA announced in the Federal Register a notice of a nationwide waiver for the Buy American provision of ARRA. The first waiver is for projects that had started bidding on or after Oct. 1, 2008, but before Feb. 17, 2009, when ARRA was adopted. The second waiver is for “de minimus” components of projects and defined as imported components making up no more than 5% of the total cost of materials used in the project.

Many agencies don’t expect to see much from clean water and drinking water funds from the economic stimulus program, but are looking longer-term and hoping that sustainable funding sources will be developed. Proposals for an infrastructure bank and a water trust fund are under congressional discussion, but are still in the formative stages. As we reported previously, the House and Senate SRF reauthorization bills include substantial funding for a 5-year period and are making positive progress.

This support for water infrastructure funding is carrying over into the House review of EPA’s FY 2010 budget, where the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee is proposing to increase water program funding over the Obama administration’s proposed request of $10.5 billion. On a related note, EPA will be conducting a free webinar on SRF sustainability policy development from noon to 2 p.m. EST Tuesday, June 30.