S. 1523 would authorize the appropriation of $26 million annually over the 2016-2020 period for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Estuary Program. The legislation also would amend the Clean Water Act to require that grants awarded to state, local, and private entities by EPA are awarded in a competitive manner. CBO estimates that implementing this legislation would cost $112 million over the 2016-2020 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts.
Enacting S. 1523 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
S. 1523 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, and any costs incurred by state, local, or tribal governments, including matching contributions, would result from participation in a voluntary federal program.
