» Clean Water Current Archive

October 7, 2011

Momentum Gathers on Money Matters™ Objectives with Administration, Congress

Building on the momentum generated through its recent high-level meetings with the EPA as part of the Association’s Money Matters™ campaign, NACWA staff and key member agency leaders met this week with senior EPA water and enforcement officials on the need for a new, more flexible approach to meeting the mandates of the Clean Water Act (CWA).  During the meeting, which took place October 3 in Milwaukee during the Clean Water America Alliance’s Urban Water Sustainability Leadership Conference, EPA committed to initiating a new effort to craft an integrated planning framework that would address many of the elements of NACWA’s Money Matters™ draft legislation.  EPA will now be looking to NACWA and its members for further technical input on the elements of an integrated planning approach and the types of flexibility clean water agencies will need to prioritize CWA requirements in order to ensure that limited resources can be spent on a prioritized basis — namely on those programs that will have the greatest benefit for their communities.  NACWA Advocacy Alert 11-22 provides a summary of the meeting, as well as an outline of EPA’s activities to date and next steps.

Meanwhile, NACWA continues to maintain an aggressive effort on Capitol Hill to boost support for its legislation and to encourage Members of Congress to weigh in with EPA regarding the importance of advancing with this initiative in a timely manner.  Last Friday (September 30), Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) sent a letter  to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson commending the Agency for its work with NACWA and other stakeholders on an integrated permitting system.  Senator Brown’s letter urged EPA to move quickly on the effort and to establish deadlines for EPA’s work.  In addition, NACWA sent a letter  of support this week to Senator Brown in support of his legislation, the Clean Water Affordability Act, which authorizes $250 million annually for five years in grant financing to help local communities address wet weather challenges, including projects to correct combined sewer overflows (CSOs), and requires EPA to revise its outdated guidance on financial capability for communities negotiating CSO consent decrees.  NACWA plans to maintain pressure on all fronts to provide the relief the clean water community needs.

NACWA Offers Support for House Clean Water Investment Bill

NACWA sent a letter  this week to Congressman Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources & the Environment, in support of his bill, the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2011, which he plans to introduce early next week.  The bill will likely be cosponsored by Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio), and would authorize approximately $15 billion over five years in investments for water infrastructure projects, establish a $10 billion annual, long-term trust fund, and authorize a total of $2.5 billion for sewer overflow control grants ($500,000 per year over five years).  The bill would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a report on potential revenue sources to support the $10 billion annual trust fund.

NACWA’s letter states that due to the pressure of funding shortfalls, aging infrastructure and increasingly stringent regulatory and enforcement regime, this bill is important to public clean water agencies because it recognizes that new sources of revenue and a robust federal funding partnership are essential.  It also demonstrates the continued momentum toward the establishment of a Clean Water Trust Fund.  The Association looks forward to working with Rep. Bishop to develop broad-based support for this legislation.

Nutrient Issues Remain a Focus on Capitol Hill; DC Water, EPA Testify at Senate Hearing

NACWA Board member, George Hawkins, General Manager of DC Water, testified this week before the Senate Water & Wildlife Subcommittee.  The hearing explored nutrient pollution issues with a focus on viable approaches for controlling nutrient loadings into the nation's waterbodies.  Hawkins testified that DC Water is undertaking several water quality control projects, including a $900 million enhanced nutrient control project to reduce DC Water’s total nitrogen loading to the Chesapeake Bay from 5 million pounds annually to 4.4 million pounds, resulting in a two percent reduction in the total wastewater treatment contribution of nitrogen to the Bay.  Hawkins testified that these marginal improvements in nutrient load reductions require an enormous level of investment that could be better spent upstream on reducing nutrient loads from other pollutant sources, including agricultural run-off.

The panel, chaired by Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), heard from a number of witnesses, including EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water, Nancy Stoner.  Stoner was questioned about EPA’s efforts on numeric nutrient criteria and whether the Agency would allow States to use narrative criteria, as appropriate.  Stoner responded that EPA continues to work cooperatively with States and that the Agency was holding a workshop with the States this week to explore the issue further, including the possible use of biological indicators in a "weight of evidence" approach to nutrient criteria.  Stoner, however, did not directly answer the question of whether States would be allowed to use narrative, instead of numeric, criteria to address nutrients.  Other witnesses included representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the State of Oklahoma Water Quality Control Agency, environmental organizations and farming interests.  The hearing webcast is archived on the Senate’s Environment & Public Works’ website.

One Week Remains to Apply for NACWA’s National Environmental Achievement Awards

The deadline to apply for a National Environmental Achievement Award (NEAA) is fast approaching.  Don’t miss this important opportunity to be recognized!  The NEAA program honors individuals and member agencies that have made extraordinary contributions through outstanding advocacy or innovative projects that have had a positive impact on the environment, their utility, their community, NACWA, and/or the clean water industry.  Member agencies are strongly encouraged to submit applications for the programs and initiatives that exemplify their clear commitment to clean water.  Applications are due next Friday, October 14, 2011.  Applications and nomination guidelines can be found on our website at www.nacwa.org/neaa.  Please contact Laura Cobb, Membership Development Coordinator, at 202/533-1805 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for additional information.

A Unique Offering for Exceptional Executive Education – the 2012 Water & Wastewater Leadership Center

Don’t miss your opportunity to experience the ultimate in water sector executive education at the 2012 Water & Wastewater Leadership Center.  Applications are currently being accepted for this twelve-day, executive management program held at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, February 19 - March 2, 2012.  Celebrating more than a decade of executive leadership, the Leadership Center prepares utility leaders and managers to meet the current and future demands with the highest level of service, quality and efficiency.  Visit the Leadership Center page of the NACWA website to view the 2012 brochure and application.  Space is limited and applicants are encouraged to apply early.  The deadline to apply to join the 2012 class at the Water & Wastewater Leadership Center is November 11, 2011.

Don’t Miss These Important Opportunities to Meet, Explore, and Discuss Issues Critical to Your Organization

• NACWA's Hot Topics Breakfast – October 18 at WEFTEC

Join us at the Association’s annual Hot Topics Breakfast on Tuesday, October 18 at WEFTEC 2011 in Los Angeles.  The Breakfast will take place from 8:00–10:00am in the Platinum Ballroom Salons F-H at the J.W. Marriott at LA Live, and will feature remarks from key EPA officials, and a wide-ranging discussion of regulatory, legislative and legal issues critical to your utility.  At press time Ephraim King, Director, Office of Science & Technology; Jim Hanlon, Director, Office of Wastewater Management; Deborah Nagle, Associate Director of the Water Permits Division; Connie Bosma, Municipal Branch Chief; and, Chris Kloss, Coordinator, Office of Water Green Infrastructure have confirmed their plans to attend.  This informal session provides ample opportunity to ask our colleagues from EPA questions of local and national significance.  There is no fee for the breakfast but we do ask that you register as soon as possible!

• Developments in Clean Water Law Seminar - Hotel Reservation Cut-off is October 21

NACWA’s 2011 Developments in Clean Water Law Seminar, November 16-18, at the historic Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, promises to deliver an exciting and informative program addressing the most important topics currently impacting municipal clean water attorneys and utility managers.  Please visit our website to view the most up-to-date Seminar agenda.  Make your plans today - the hotel registration deadline is October 21 (only two weeks away!) and the registration deadline to be included on the meeting participants list is November 1.