By the Numbers: EPA Cuts

April 3-9, 2017 is National Public Health Week. In honor of that, we take a look at proposed funding cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, which has responsibility for protecting public health and the environment.

1

Rank of U.S. Steel Gary Works among the largest polluters of the Great Lakes

$2.6 billion

Funding President Trump has proposed to cut from the EPA, or 31 percent of its budget.

$54 billion

Increase in funding for the Department of Defense in Trump’s budget proposal.

$300 million

Decrease in funding for Great Lakes restoration, to $0, in Trump’s budget proposal.

33

Percentage of proposed cut in funding for Superfund cleanup efforts.

26

Number of ongoing Superfund cleanup sites on the Great Lakes.

30 million

Number of people in the United States and Canada who rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water.

14

Lawsuits against Clean Air and Clean Water act regulations filed by EPA Director Scott Pruitt when he served as Oklahoma’s attorney general.

45

Percentage of funding cuts to states for environmental programs Pruitt announced in February.

1977

Year the EPA won a five-year court battle to secure a decision forcing the U.S. Steel Gary Works to reduce the amount of industrial waste it dumps into Lake Michigan

2007

Year the EPA intervened to prevent the state of Indiana from relaxing the water pollution permit of the U.S. Steel Gary Works plant Gary Steel

Source: Chicago Tribune, March 17, 2017 “Trump’s cuts target environmental work”