» Clean Water Current Archive

June 10, 2011

NACWA Poised for Major Push on Money Matters™ Legislation

NACWA has put together a final working draft of its Money Matters™ regulatory prioritization legislation and is talking to key Senate and House offices to secure sponsors to introduce the legislation.  The draft legislation was developed following an April facilitated session and a discussion of the bill at NACWA’s National Environmental Policy Forum in May.  The legislation will continue to be a work in progress as Members of Congress engage on the bill and stakeholders provide ongoing input into the legislation.

The draft legislation ensures that municipalities have the opportunity to shape their Clean Water Act (CWA) compliance programs through an application process that will clearly define the CWA priorities that a wastewater or stormwater agency will address first through a real-world focus on financial capability concerns and maximization of water quality benefits.  Under the draft legislation, all CWA requirements would still be complied with, but the utility – through an application and negotiation process with the appropriate state authority and pursuant to EPA-developed guidelines – would have the ability to set achievable compliance timeframes, and the flexibility to alter compliance priorities as the economic, regulatory and scientific/technological landscapes change.

NACWA will be providing its membership with an Advocacy Alert and a section-by-section summary of the legislation next week. As the Association works toward introducing the legislation, NACWA will be in contact with key public agency members seeking their support in reaching out to their Members of Congress as potential sponsors.  NACWA thanks the members of the Money Matters Task Force for their input in the legislative drafting process, and help in developing the legislative strategy going forward.

On a related note, NACWA and other water sector organizations met this week with key EPA Office of Water staff, including Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Nancy Stoner, and the Money Matters legislation was discussed.  Stoner requested a copy of the draft bill and expressed interest in reviewing it and providing some feedback on it from EPA’s perspective.

NACWA Holds Key Meeting with Senate Staff on Farm Bill

NACWA staff met this week with key staff on the Senate Agriculture Committee to discuss policy solutions for addressing nutrients within Farm Bill legislation.  Congress has begun efforts to reauthorize the Farm Bill, scheduled to expire in early 2013, with hearings in the Senate that will likely continue through this Fall.  NACWA and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) had a constructive discussion with committee staff members who were receptive to finding ways to address the nutrient challenge through innovative agricultural policy solutions.

This meeting was an initial step in part of a broader coalition effort comprised of municipal water and wastewater agencies – as well as state regulators and conservation organizations who are interested in seeing progress on reducing nutrient run-off from agricultural lands.  The coalition has met several times since December and is developing a set of recommendations to establish stronger agricultural policies to address the nutrient challenge.  NACWA and the coalition will be organizing additional meetings with key Senate and House Members as Farm Bill negotiations progress.  Association members interested in learning more about this effort should contact Patricia Sinicropi, NACWA Legislative Director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CEQ Issues Water Quality Climate Change Plan; NACWA to Comment

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released its June 2 draft report, National Action Plan: Priorities for Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate , which recommends actions that federal agencies should take to help water resource managers understand and reduce the risks of climate change.  The Plan was developed by a workgroup consisting of representatives from federal agencies, including EPA and the Department of Agriculture.  The six general recommendations in the Plan are to establish a planning process, improve water resources and climate data, strengthen vulnerability assessment, improve water use efficiency, support integrated water resources management, and educate water resource managers.  While NACWA’s initial review of the Plan did not reveal much that is new or innovative regarding water resource management or wastewater treatment issues, the Association will use the comment opportunity for the Plan to emphasize that water quality will be best protected and improved in the face of climate change through a watershed approach, with regulatory prioritization as a key component – echoing the message of NACWA’s Money Matters™ campaign and the work of NACWA’s Strategic Watershed Task Force.  Comments are due July 15, and NACWA members should send any input to Cynthia Finley at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by July 1.

Registration is open for NACWA’s Summer Conference, Engineered for Success. . . Creating a First Class Public Utility – visit www.nacwa.org/11summer today!