Bill to Fund Key Interior and Environmental Programs in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee
More than $65 million for 35 projects in Maine funding in bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 28-0
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for Maine in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
The measure, which was advanced by a bipartisan vote of 28-0, provides $42.695 billion in discretionary funding, including $2.650 billion in wildland fire suppression funding.
“This bipartisan bill makes an important investment in Maine’s public lands, national parks, and tribal programs, promoting conservation efforts throughout the State. Helping to ensure healthy and resilient communities, the legislation also supports critical upgrades to water and wastewater systems that will provide clean drinking water and mitigate increasing flood risks,” said Senator Collins. “As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advance this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Bill Highlights:
Local Projects: $65,258,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for 35 requests across Maine through the FY24 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
Carbon Neutrality of Biomass: Includes a provision that recognizes biomass as carbon neutral across federal agencies.
Great American Outdoors Act Projects:
- Land and Water Conservation Fund/Fish and Wildlife Service: $1.5 million for the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.
- Land and Water Conservation Fund/Forest Service and Forest Legacy Program: $1.15 million for the South Branch Forest Project and $3.17 million for the White Mountain National Forest.
Acadia Centennial Challenge: Includes $5 million for the Centennial Challenge Program to help alleviate the housing shortage for at Acadia National Park.
Brownfields Grants: $101 million, a $1 million increase above the FY23 enacted level, for the Brownfields Projects Grant, as well as $47.2 million for Brownfields Categorical Grants.
Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF): $1.638 billion for the Clean Water SRF and $1.126 billion for the Drinking Water SRF.
Community Wood Energy Program: $15 million for the Community Wood Energy Program.
Water System PFAS Support Funding: $121.5 million for EPA’s Public Water System Supervision categorical grant, including $12 million directed at addressing PFAS.
Rural Water Technical Assistance Grant Program: $32.7 million, a $2 million increase above the FY23 enacted level, and the continuation of report language directing that funding be awarded competitively. This includes $27.75 million, an increase of $1.75 million above the FY23 enacted level, to provide technical assistance to small and rural public water systems under the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act.
Advancing Forest Based Nanomaterials Towards Commercial Applications: $2 million and report language for research on using forest-based cellulose nanomaterials.
Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NRSC): $6 million, a $1 million increase above the FY23 enacted level, for the NSRC. A collaboration among universities in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, the NSRC sponsors research to sustain the health of northern forest ecosystems and communities, to develop new forest products, improve forest biodiversity management, and to establish a Digital Forestry Systems Research Consortium.
Developing National Consistent Biomass Model: $2 million is included to support partnerships working on refining county and state level biomass estimates.
National Estuary Program: $42 million, an increase of $2 million above the FY23 enacted level, for the National Estuary Program (NEP). The Casco Bay Estuary Partnership and Piscataqua Region Estuaries are members of the NEP.
Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program: $6 million for this program, which supports many communities throughout Maine.
Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA): $32.197 million for FIA, which represents the only source of forest data and analysis that is national in scope and consistent in measurements.
National Wildlife Refuges: $539M for wildlife refuges, including an additional $1 million for staffing and maintenance. The bill also includes report language encouraging the Service to prioritize filling longstanding vacancies in the refuge system, such as at the Northern Maine Wildlife Refuge Complex. $13.228 million is also included for the National Wildlife Refuge Fund, which helps pay local governments for lands in wildlife refuges that are removed from local tax rolls.
This funding advanced through the markup of the FY24 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate. Committee consideration of legislation is a key part of regular order, which helps our government function efficiently and deliver results for the people of Maine and America.
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