Adequacy of EPA's Budgetary and Manpower Resources in Carrying Out Its Mission

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) personnel and budgetary resources must increase to keep pace with an increase in its legislated responsibilities. Over the past 3 fiscal years (FY), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has consistently reduced EPA requests for funds an average of about 13 percent; Congress has appropriated an average of about 4 percent more than OMB requested but far less than EPA initially estimated it needed. EPA budget authority increased from $303 million in FY 1971 to $848 million in FY 1978, an increase of 180 percent. During the same period, personnel increased by only 42 percent. For FY 1979, EPA is requesting from Congress a 32.8 percent increase in budget authority or $278.8 million more than appropriated for FY 1978. The number of positions requested for 1979 is 10,840, 290 more than Congress approved for 1978. EPA justifies its budget submissions by media (air, water quality, pesticides, etc.) which are generally directly related to a particular act for which EPA is responsible. From 1976 to 1978, the air and water media comprised about half of the total budget authority, and the energy and management media made up the bulk of the other half. Budget authority for water quality and energy media has decreased, while water supply, solid waste, toxic substances, and interdisciplinary media budget authorities have increased.