This bill makes changes to two existing water statutes. It updates a drinking-water emergency assistance program to say assistance can be provided when actions would not be economically feasible for ratepayers. It raises the authorized funding for that program from $35,000,000 (for fiscal years 2022–2026) to $50,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031. The bill also adds a new section to the clean-water statute allowing the Administrator to give technical help and grants to States or publicly owned treatment works for emergencies that threaten public health. The new clean-water authority covers emergencies including cybersecurity events and examples such as increased contaminant exposure from sewer overflows. Grants must be used only to prevent, limit, or mitigate danger to public health and only when the activity would not be taken or would not be economically feasible for ratepayers without the grant. The Administrator may coordinate these actions with other emergency programs, and money provided under the new section is not limited by other program appropriation limits.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.