U.S. House of Representatives Appropriation Committee: Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials Testimony Submitted to Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Other Related Agencies

The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (“ASTSWMO”) submitted testimony to the United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Other Related Agencies.

The testimony addresses FY 2026 Fiscal Appropriations.

ASTSWMO describes itself as an:

…organization representing the 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia whose mission is to enhance and promote effective state and territorial programs and to affect relevant national policies for waste and materials management, environmentally sustainable practices, and environmental restoration.

ASTSWMO notes by way of introduction that the states implement more than 90% of federal environmental programs whose activities include:

• Permitting.
• Enforcement.
• Data collection.
• Other core activities.

Federal funding supports state agencies and programs, and concern is expressed that cuts would have uncountable unintended consequences.

ASTSWMO members oversee:

• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”).
  • RCRA Subtitle C: Hazardous Waste.
  • RCRA Subtitle D: Solid Waste/Recycling.
  • RCRA Subtitle I: Underground Storage Tanks (“UST”).
• Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”).
• Brownfields.

The testimony provides an overview of the various programs, and the role grants play addressing:

• RCRA Subtitle C (State and Tribal Assistance Grants/states are required to provide a 25% match).
• Superfund (states are required to manage/pay for 10% of the remedial action cost, 100% of operation and maintenance after the long-term response action).
• Underground Storage Tanks (study indicated that federal grants for UST compliance/prevention programs funded on approximately 50% of the reported state cost).
• Brownfields (funding states receive each year provide a number of benefits to local units of government, corporations, and organizations who oversee the day to day clean up and redevelopment of contaminated/underutilized properties).

The testimony also notes that:

…With the changes to the federal workforce, responsibilities, and obligations it is important more so now than ever that the States receive the resources they need to implement federal environmental programs pursuant to States obligations connected with cooperative federalism and cross-agency partnerships.

A copy of the testimony can be downloaded here.