For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Pat Sinicropi, (202) 833-2672
Director, Legislative Affairs

NACWA Commends Congress on Passage on Legislation Requiring Equity in Stormwater Fee Payments

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation requiring Federal payment of local stormwater management fees (S. 3481).  This legislation, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent on December 21, 2010, will benefit communities in 15 states and the District of Columbia that are currently experiencing issues with federal payment of these fees.  In addition, the legislation will provide certainty to communities that may enact stormwater fees in the future to meet growing stormwater management responsibilities. 

NACWA has long-advocated that federal facilities are obligated to pay local stormwater fees and has been actively pressing this issue since April when the General Services Administration (GSA) delivered a preliminary announcement that federal facilities located in Washington, D.C. are not required to pay impervious area charges levied by the local authority.  GSA claimed that the fee amounted to a tax on the federal government and therefore payment was unconstitutional.  NACWA opposed this decision and applauds Congress for its leadership in working to see this overturned on a national level. 

“We agree with Congress that it is unfair for the federal government to require cities and utilities to undertake these investments and then exempt themselves from payment.” said NACWA Executive Director Ken Kirk. “Today’s action will help communities in 15 states currently dealing with this issue and will lay a foundation for a stronger partnership moving forward.” said Kirk. “We applaud Senator Cardin and Representative Norton for their leadership on this issue.”

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NACWA represents the interests of nearly 300 of the nation’s publicly owned wastewater treatment works, serving the majority of the sewered population in the United States, collectively treating and reclaiming over 18 billion gallons of wastewater every day.