Bill > S1183

This bill appropriates a total of $165,914,000 to the Department of Environmental Quality for fiscal years 2023 and 2024. * **Administration and Support Services:** $11,473,800 is allocated for administrative functions, funded by various sources including the Department of Environmental Quality (General) Fund, Air Quality Permitting Fund, Public Water System Supervision Fund, Environmental Remediation Funds, Department of Environmental Quality (Receipts) Fund, Idaho Underground Storage Tank Program Fund, IPDES Program Fund, Bunker Hill Trust Fund, Department of Environmental Quality (Federal) Fund, and the ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund. * **Air Quality:** $12,088,500 is appropriated for air quality programs, funded by the Department of Environmental Quality (General) Fund, Air Quality Permitting Fund, Department of Environmental Quality (Receipts) Fund, and the Department of Environmental Quality (Federal) Fund. * **Water Quality:** $101,457,500 is allocated for water quality initiatives, with significant funding from the Department of Environmental Quality (Federal) Fund and the ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund, as well as the Department of Environmental Quality (General) Fund, Public Water System Supervision Fund, Department of Environmental Quality (Receipts) Fund, and IPDES Program Fund. * **Coeur d'Alene Basin Commission:** $320,500 is appropriated for the commission's activities, funded by the Department of Environmental Quality (General) Fund, Environmental Remediation (Basin) Fund, and the Department of Environmental Quality (Federal) Fund. * **Waste Management and Remediation:** $37,846,000 is designated for waste management and remediation efforts, with substantial contributions from the Department of Environmental Quality (Federal) Fund and the ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund, along with funding from the Department of Environmental Quality (General) Fund, Environmental Remediation Funds, Department of Environmental Quality (Receipts) Fund, Idaho Underground Storage Tank Program Fund, and Bunker Hill Trust Fund. * **Idaho National Laboratory Oversight:** $2,727,700 is appropriated for oversight related to the Idaho National Laboratory, funded by the Department of Environmental Quality (General) Fund and the Department of Environmental Quality (Federal) Fund. * **Cash Transfers:** The bill also authorizes cash transfers totaling $1,500,000 from the Water Pollution Control Fund to the Environmental Remediation (Basin) Fund for Coeur d'Alene Basin cleanup, and $279,000 from the Department of Environmental Quality (General) Fund to the Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) Fund. * **Reappropriations:** Unexpended balances from the ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund, American Rescue Plan Fund, and the DEQ (General) Fund are reappropriated for specific projects, including water infrastructure, remediation, air quality monitors, and an electronic data management system. * **Personnel Authorization:** The Department of Environmental Quality is authorized to have up to 379 full-time equivalent positions for the period July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, unless authorized by the Governor. * **Reporting Requirements:** Specific reporting requirements are outlined for remediation projects in the Coeur d'Alene Basin and for ARPA funding expenditures. * **ARPA Funding Intent:** The Legislature intends to provide up to $325,000,000 from the ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund for drinking water and wastewater projects, with a tiered grant approach prioritizing systems with the greatest need and least ability to pay.