Q18.4 Please provide the level of funding for EPA's “work with state and local decision-makers to develop and implement transportation improvements that encourage 'livable communities' compact, walkable and mixed use development - while reducing the growth in vehicle travel, emissions, and congestion" in FY 1997 and FY 1998, and the amount requested for FY 1999.

A18.4 See response to Question 29.

Q18.5 Please identify all recipients of the funds--by fiscal year and by amount for each recipient--identified in the response to question 18.3 above.

A18.5 EPA interprets this question to be based on the misconception that EPA provides financial assistance to partners in this program. EPA does not provide any funding to program participants. Instead, EPA uses its funding to disseminate reliable financial and technical information to program partners to assist them in making better decisions for investing their own money. With improved information through voluntary partnerships, companies are able to make investments that simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy bills.

Buildings Initiatives

Q19. On page 9 of your written testimony, you state:

"3. Buildings Initiatives. The buildings sector, which includes both
homes and commercial buildings, offers a large potential for carbon
reductions using technologies that are on the shelf today. However,
consumers and businesses continue to invest substantial resources in
equipment that is relatively energy inefficient, resulting in higher
energy bills and higher pollution levels. One of the key challenges over
the next decade will be to overcome market barriers, such as the lack
of reliable information, and improve the markets for energy-efficient
products. EPA will expand its partnerships with equipment
manufacturers and building owners in order to provide reliable, easily
understood information to a greater segment of the residential and
commercial markets. EPA will also expand its work to support other
Federal agencies in improving the energy performance of their
facilities."

Q19.1 What is EPA's current (FY 1998) level of funding for such buildings activities and what level is requested for FY 1999?

A19.1 FY1998 Enacted = $38,800,000

Q19.2 Your description of EPA's "Buildings Initiatives" is very similar in many respects to activities supported by the Department of Energy. How do they overlap or duplicate each other, and how do they differ?

A19.2 There is no duplication between EPA's and DOE's buildings initiatives. Because a majority of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are a result of energy consumption, and because the solution to climate change requires the more efficient use of our energy resources to deliver the services we need, it is most appropriate that the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency work together to improve the energy pathway of the United States. Under the Climate Change Technology Initiative's Buildings Sector programs, DOE and EPA have distinct but complimentary responsibilities that, in total, represent an integrated and coordinated Federal approach to providing the mid-term and long-term efficiency gains needed to help meet environmental and energy policy objectives. DOE's budget request outlines their major responsibilities. For example, DOE makes significant contributions in the Research, Development, and Deployment of advanced technologies that will provide continued opportunities for cost-effective investments that reduce energy use. DOE also issues energy efficiency standards that ensure a minimum efficiency level for many types of building equipment being sold today. Focusing on the significant opportunity for cost-effective pollution prevention without regulation, EPA joins DOE in working to form partnerships to deploy today's highly efficient energy technologies. There are some areas in particular where DOE and EPA have worked together - for example, the Energy Star Label. The Energy Star label is the Federal government's symbol for energy efficiency, and it bears the names of both EPA and DOE. By working together, EPA and DOE have been able to provide a unified message to equipment manufacturers and consumers. EPA and DOE have formed hundreds of successful partnerships with equipment manufacturers, and the voluntary label can be found on thousands of different products. Because the Energy Star label bears both an environmental and an energy message, the DOE and EPA partnership is a sensible approach to program implementation. To avoid any duplication of effort, there is a Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies that clearly designates the distinct responsibilities of each agency under the Energy Star labeling program.

Carbon Removal

Q20. On pages 9 and 10 of your written testimony, you state:

"4. Carbon Removal. EPA working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture will encourage the forest products sector to achieve greater reliance on biomass fuels as an energy source and be a supplier of carbon sequestration credits through afforestation and reforestation activities. EPA will accelerate efforts to promote the use of livestock based fertilizer products and more efficient use of nutrients from all sources."

Depending on the interpretations of Kyoto, we see tremendous opportunities to advance the objectives/goals of Kyoto using land management tools. Among these are forest management practices. Kyoto could create incentives to engage in afforestation activities, e.g. conversion of agricultural lands for conservation purposes or agroforestry. In addition, forest managers might engage in sustainable practices that increase carbon sequestration on existing forests. Kyoto also creates greater opportunities for the use of biomass as a "climate neutral" source of energy production.

Q20.1 Please describe EPA's "efforts to promote the use of livestock based fertilizer products and more efficient use of nutrients from all sources."

A20.1 In FY 1997 EPA convened a conference entitled “Strategies to Capitalize on the Animal Manure Resource" in cooperation with The Fertilizer Institute. The conference brought together many stakeholders including livestock producers and their national organizations, land grant university agricultural scientists, fertilizer dealers and manufacturers, federal and state agencies, agricultural equipment manufacturers, and agriculture organizations. Its goal was to start a national dialogue on the creation of market incentives that encourage the widespread and profitable use of animal manures in environmentally safe systems. One direct result of this conference was the FY 1997 funding of a pilot project in Texas in cooperation with USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service to evaluate the feasibility of collecting, processing, and marketing dairy manure. In FY 1998, EPA, in coordination with USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service, Cooperative State Research Extension and Education Service, and Agricultural Research Service, began an interagency agreement to develop threshold levels for phosphorus in soils throughout the United States. These levels will enable states to base livestock manure land application guidance or regulations on good science. In addition, many states fund nutrient management demonstration projects through EPA's Section 319 grant program (nonpoint sources). EPA will

Crop Advisers on the environmental and agronomic benefits of proper application of livestock manure.

Q20.2 What is EPA's current (FY 1998) level of funding “efforts to promote the use of livestock based fertilizer products and more efficient use of nutrients from all sources" and what level is requested for FY 1999?

The level of funding for the Section 319 projects by states either in FY 1998 or FY 1999 is unknown at this time.

Q20.3 Please identify all recipients of the funds--by fiscal year and by amount for each recipient--identified in the response to question 20.2 above.

A20.3 FY '98

-

Interagency Agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Funds will be transferred to land grant universities in the areas of concern: $120,000.

Recipients for the rest of FY '98 and FY'99 funds have not yet been identified.

Crosscutting Analysis and Approaches

Q21. On page 10 of your written testimony, you state:

“5. Crosscutting Analysis and Approaches. To build support for and the institutional capacity needed to implement a domestic and international carbon emissions trading program, EPA will work with developing nations and states and localities. Emissions from developing countries are growing rapidly and are projected to exceed those of developed countries within the next forty years. An effective, efficient global solution to climate change must be market-based and must involve both developed and developing countries. The Administration and EPA will work to secure additional international support for the American vision of global climate protection reflected in the Kyoto Protocol by assisting key developing countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address global climate change. EPA will also expand its work with states, which are key players, in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EPA will provide support to states to help develop emission inventories and voluntary action plans, and implement and expand promising policy options identified by states in the greenhouse gas

Q21.1 Please describe EPA's FY 1997 and FY 1998 “work with states, which are key players, in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions" and "support to states to help develop emission inventories and voluntary action plans, and implement and expand promising policy options identified by states in the greenhouse gas mitigation plans."

A21.1 EPA's FY 1997 and FY 1998 voluntary State and Local program aims to build capacity at the state and local level making them full partners in the implementation of the Climate Change Action Plan, integrating climate efforts with complementary programs, and engaging public officials in climate policy-making. Through the State and Local climate change efforts, states and localities will (1) increase their understanding of the economic and environmental risks and impacts of climate change (for example, to public health); (2) assess and develop mitigation strategies that are cost-effective, environmentally sound and equitable; and (3) implement, evaluate and document results.

Q21.2 Please provide the level of funding for activities described in the response to question 21.1 in FY 1997 and FY 1998, and the amount requested for FY 1999.

A21.2 The FY 1997 operating plan allocated $3.3 million for State and Local activities. FY 1998 operating plan also allocates $2.8 million to support Climate Change Action Plan's State and Local activities. The FY1999 President's Request for the State and Local program is $5.0 million.

Q21.3 Please identify all recipients of the funds--by fiscal year and by amount for each recipient--identified in the response to question 21.2 above.

A21.3 EPA interprets this question to be based on the misconception that EPA provides financial assistance to partners in this program. EPA does not provide any funding to program participants. Instead, EPA uses its funding to disseminate reliable financial and technical information to program partners to assist them in making better decisions for investing their own money. With improved information through voluntary partnerships, companies are able to make investments that simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy bills.