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JFAC approves DEQ budget enhancements, including Triumph mine remediation and drinking‑water grants
Summary
JFAC approved targeted pay to reduce turnover at the Department of Environmental Quality, transfers for remediation work including the Triumph mine, use of ARPA funds for infrastructure grantees, and a general fund transfer for drinking‑water and wastewater grants.
Janet Jessup, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, presented the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) budget package covering administration, air, water, waste management and remediation programs.
The committee approved multiple enhancements for FY2026. Key approvals included targeted pay to address turnover in permitting positions; a $1,500,000 transfer from the Water Pollution Control Fund to the Environmental Remediation Fund for ongoing Superfund cleanup projects; $1,030,000 for remediation of the Triumph mine; moving forward ARPA State Fiscal Recovery funds ($73,813,500 reported on the record for infrastructure grantees) in operating schedules to allow grantees to be reimbursed sooner; and a $10,000,000 general fund transfer to the Water Pollution Control Fund to support drinking‑water and wastewater infrastructure grants.
Ms. Jessup explained the ARPA change was not new money to the agency but a timing and schedule adjustment so funds required to be spent by calendar year 2026 could be obligated and reimbursed in a timely manner. Senator Woodward highlighted the targeted pay enhancement as a measure to reduce permit turnaround times and retain experienced supervisors and permit‑riders in the agency.
On the record JFAC adopted the motion with totals reported as 16 ayes, 3 nays and 1 absent/excused across the combined panels (Senate: 7 aye, 2 nay, 1 absent excused; House: 9 aye, 1 nay). The committee also adopted accompanying reappropriation language and a fiscal‑year‑25 indirect cost exemption requested by the department tied to new accounting system changes.
The package directs DEQ to follow the conditions and reporting requirements listed in the adopted language. Members emphasized the operational priority of improving permitting timeliness and completing remediation projects funded in this package.
