Georgia, Inland Waterways, National Category
Startup Uses Drone for Cleaning Water, Collecting Data
BROADBAND – The measure’s $65 billion investment ensures every American has access to reliable high-speed internet with an historic investment in broadband infrastructure deployment. ASCE recognizes the critical role that broadband communication plays in the Nation’s economy and believes that the private sector and governments at all levels have important roles toward closing the gap in digital access for all.
PARKS – A new Forest Service Legacy Roads and Trails program is established to prioritize maintenance of authorized roads and trails within the National Forest System. Additionally, the Forest Service will be allowed to decommission existing and previously closed roads and trails after proposed closures have undergone public comment, and the agency ensures closures do not impede resource, recreational or emergency access. The Forest Service will also be able to close some unauthorized user-created roads and trails not identified on agency maps, which may create conflict with users, local governments, and other interested parties.
SCHOOLS – Local education agencies and public schools are eligible to apply to USDOE for competitive grants to carry out eligible activities, including:
- Improvements, repairs, or renovations to schools directly decrease energy costs.
- Improvements to teacher and student health.
- Installation of alternative fueling infrastructure on school grounds for buses or the public.
- Procurement of alternative fueled vehicles for bus fleets and other school-related operations.
A successful applicant will be required to, upon request of USDOE, submit a report describing how the funds were used, estimated cost-saving, metrics and other requirements outlined in the IIJA.
ASCE’s Report Card for America’s Infrastructure gave the nation’s schools a D+ and noted that 53% of public-school districts report the need to update or replace multiple building systems
HAZARDOUS WASTE – IIJA contains $3.5 billion over five years for the remedial account of the Superfund program. The measure would also waive the state-cost share requirements. One of the few tax increases in the bill is the re-reinstatement of the Superfund polluters levy, a tax on chemical companies to clean up hazardous waste sites. It is estimated to raise $14.5 billion over a decade. The tax was created in 1980 and expired in 1995. This plan would impose the tax through 2031. ASCE has long championed the need to increase federal funding for Superfund and reinstatement of the expired Superfund taxes.
SOLID WASTE – The Act also addresses waste management issues by providing additional funding for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs for various recycling and pollution prevention programs.
Legislation Summary
BROADBAND – Among the specific allocations, IIJA provides $40 billion in grants to states, $600 million in Private Activities Bonds, $2 billion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in support for rural areas, $2 billion for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, $1 billion to support construction of middle-mile projects, and $2.75 billion to fund the Digital Equity Act.
PARKS – IIJA provides $250 million over five years to establish a Forest Service Legacy Roads and Trails Program to prioritize maintenance of authorized roads and trails within the National Forest System.
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SCHOOLS – The bill includes a $500 million grant program over five-years to provide energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in public schools. Eligible improvements include any repair or renovation that would result in a direct reduction in school energy costs, including improvements to the envelope, heating and air conditioning system, or ventilation system, as well as improvements that lead to improved air quality or the use of renewable energy technologies. This would be the first time that the federal government has provided infrastructure related grants directly to public schools.
HAZARDOUS WASTE – IIJA will add an additional $3.5 billion over five-years to the remedial account of the Superfund program. Additionally, it will reinstate the Superfund polluters levy, a tax on chemical companies to clean up hazardous. waste sites. It is estimated to raise $14.5 billion over a decade.
SOLID WASTE – IIJA includes a number of initiatives to stimulate recycling including:
- $75 million for the RECYCLES Act – which promotes community recycling programs.
- $150 million for Critical Mineral and Battery Recycling.
- $275 million for the Save our Seas – Post-Consumer Materials Management Grants.
- $100 million for the Pollution Prevention Program.
Report Card Wins
The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – IIJA – represents an historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our roads, bridges, water and wastewater networks, ports, electric grid, dams, and more. It increases funding, makes smart improvements to policy such as streamlining permitting, and it creates new programs targeted at all 17 categories in the 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. The bill is a significant down payment on the $2.5 trillion infrastructure investment gap that was identified in the 2021 Report Card and will benefit American businesses and families for years to come.
IIJA addresses one of ASCE’s recommendations concerning broadband which is to ensure broadband is built out to underserved populations. IIJA provides $65 billion for broadband infrastructure, grants to states, Private Activity Bonds, and grants to rural areas and tribal authorities.
IIJA addresses one of ASCE’s recommendations concerning parks which is to strive to make all parks facilities and programs accessible to everyone. IIJA provides $250 million over five years to prioritize maintenance of authorized roads and trails within the National Forest System.
IIJA addresses two of ASCE’s recommendations concerning schools which is to focus on capital planning and alternative financing. ASCE also noted the poor condition of many school HAVC systems. IIJA provides $500 million grant program over five-years to provide energy improvements in public schools and $200 million over five years to address lead in school drinking water systems.
IIJA addresses four of ASCE’s recommendations concerning hazardous waste including increased funding for Superfund, address staff shortages, increase investment in PFAS, and expand brownfields grant programs. IIJA contains $3.5 billion over five-years for Superfund program, including waiving the state-cost share requirements and re-reinstatement of the Superfund polluters levy to ensure continued funding. Additionally, IIJA includes $10 billion to address PFAS and $1.5 billion over five years for brownfields-related activities.
IIJA addresses two of ASCE’s recommendations concerning solid waste including strengthen domestic markets for recycled materials and changing the way Americans think of solid waste. IIJA addresses waste management issues by providing additional funding for EPA programs, including $75 million for the RECYCLES Act – which promotes community recycling programs; $150 million for battery recycling; $275 million for a new recycling grant program and $100 million for the Pollution Prevention Program.
