Letter to William D. Ruckelshaus, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Directing the Impoundment of Funds Appropriated by Congress in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972

THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, November 22, 1972.

Hon. WILLIAM D. RUCKELSHAUS.
Administrator. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington. D.C.

DEAR MR. RUCKELSHAUS : The purpose of this letter is to request your cooperation in my attempt to maintain a strong and growing economy without inflation or tax increases.

Notwithstanding my earlier disapproval, the Congress enacted the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. This act permits a significant increase over our programs to fund the construction of wastewater treatment facilities. During this Administration, budget requests for this purpose have grown from $214 million for the fiscal year 1969 to $2 billion for the fiscal year 1973. The new act authorizes vastly larger sums. Furthermore, the Federal share of project costs has been increased significantly to a level of 75 percent.

In addition to the program increases in the new legislation, $5.1 billion of Federal funds are already committed or available for spending under former programs. Included in these amounts are:

$1.9 billion to reimburse State and local governments which have funded protects without full Federal assistance.

$1.8 billion of Federal funds to liquidate prior obligations for State and local projects.

$1.4 billion in unobligated balances carried forward from fiscal year 1972 and prior years.

I stated that even if the Congress were to default its obligation to the taxpayers through enactment of this legislation. I would not default mine. Under these circumstances. I direct that you not allot among the States the maximum amounts provided by section 207 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. No more than $2 billion of the amount authorized for the fiscal year 1973. and no more than $3 billion of the amount authorized for the fiscal year 1974 should bp allotted. These amounts will provide for improving water quality and yet give proper recognition to competing national priorities for our tax dollars, the resources now available for this program and the projected condition of the Federal treasury under existing tax laws and the statutory limit on the national debt.

I believe this course is the most responsible one—one which deals generously with environmental problems and at the same time recognizes the highest na¬tional priority, the need to protect the working men and women of America against tax increases and renewed inflation.

Sincerely,

RICHARD NIXON.