Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2009

1. Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2009 H.R. 4202 Becky Hammer – Associate Advocate, Water Program – Natural Resources Defense Council

2. Goals & Findings • Purpose of the bill: promote the understanding and use of green infrastructure techniques across the country. • In the bill, Congress finds: • America’s water resources are declining • That decline is a result of increases in population, impermeable surfaces, urbanization, and climate change • Green infrastructure can increase water supplies, create green jobs, save money, and reduce stormwater runoff and water pollution

3. H.R. 4202’s Definition of Green Infrastructure • Stormwater management techniques that preserve, restore, enhance, or mimic natural hydrology • Methods that promote absorption, uptake, percolation, evapotranspiration, and filtration by soil and plant life • Preservation and restoration of natural topography, ecology, bodies of water, and soil

4. The Bill’s Three Main Sections • Centers of Excellence for Green Infrastructure • Green Infrastructure Grants • Environmental Protection Agency Green Infrastructure Program

5. (1) Centers of Excellence for Green Infrastructure • 3-5 institutions located across the U.S. • To be selected by EPA on a competitive basis • Each Center of Excellence will: • Conduct research on green infrastructure • Develop manuals and set industry standards • Provide technical assistance to state/local gov’t • Provide training to educational institutions • Evaluate regulatory and policy issues • One will be a “national electronic clearinghouse”

6. (2) Green Infrastructure Grants • Awarded by EPA on a competitive basis • Eligible recipients: state and local governments; and local, regional, or other entities who manage stormwater, wastewater, or water resources • Priority: communities with combined sewers and low-income or disadvantaged communities • Two types of grants (next slide) • Federal share of each grant cannot exceed 65% of project cost

7. (2) Green Infrastructure Grants • Planning and development grants • Planning/design of projects; identifying and developing fee structures or revisions to local standards and codes; developing training materials; developing “portfolio standards” • Maximum grant amount: $200,000 • Implementation grants • Installing green infrastructure; monitoring and evaluating benefits • Maximum grant amount: $3,000,000

8. (3) EPA Green Infrastructure Program • Within EPA Office of Water • Duties: Promote green infrastructure in EPA programs; coordinate efforts to increase use of green infrastructure with other federal agencies, state & local governments, and private sector • Regional implementation: Incorporation of green infrastructure into permitting and enforcement • Compliance assistance center

9. Current Status of H.R. 4202 • House of Representatives: • Introduced by Donna Edwards (D-Md.) in Dec. ‘09 • Currently has 26 co-sponsors • Referred to two committees: Transportation & Infrastructure and Science & Technology • Senate: • We are still looking for a Senator to introduce a companion bill

10. H.R. 4202 Talking Points • Why we need green infrastructure • What is green infrastructure? • What is the problem with current (“gray” infrastructure) approaches? • The benefits of green infrastructure • It’s more effective at dealing with stormwater problems • It saves money and creates jobs • It relieves stress on aging infrastructure • It creates healthier communities (water, air, health, crime, aesthetics…)

11. H.R. 4202 Talking Points • Why we need to pass this bill • Current obstacles to green infrastructure: • Lack of centralized, readily available information on techniques and performance data • Local regulatory barriers • Lack of EPA acceptance and guidance • The bill will help to overcome these obstacles as well as provide much-needed funding

12. Special Talking Points for Conservative Legislators • Stress the ECONOMIC benefits of green infrastructure! • Saves $ for communities by reducing the quantity of stormwater to be treated • Reduces costs of replacing aging infrastructure • Saves $ for residents and businesses on their stormwater fees • Creates green jobs (installation, maintenance) • Others: higher property values, energy savings

13. H.R. 4202 Talking Points • Organizations who support this bill: • American Society of Landscape Architects • American Public Works Association • American Rivers • Center for Neighborhood Technology • Chesapeake Bay Foundation • Clean Water Action • Design-Build Institute of America • Low Impact Development Center • National Association of Clean Water Agencies • Natural Resources Defense Council • Water Environment Federation

14. Things to Remember • Explain who you are and WHY YOU CARE about green infrastructure • Provide concrete examples whenever possible • Experience with specific projects • Photos, drawings, or other images • Wrap up meetings with our ASK! • House: cosponsor the bill and help move it through the legislative process • Senate: sponsor and introduce a companion bill

15. Contact Information Becky Hammer Natural Resources Defense Council 202-513-6254 rhammer@nrdc.org www.nrdc.org