» Clean Water Current Archive

January 20, 2012

NACWA Urges EPA to Collect Comprehensive CAFO Information

NACWA submitted comments  this week on an October 21 proposal  by EPA to collect information about concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).  EPA stated in the proposal –  which stems from a settlement with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Waterkeeper Alliance, and the Sierra Club –  that “complete and accurate information [from CAFOs] allows governments, regulated communities, interest groups, and the public to make more informed decisions regarding ways to protect the environment.”  EPA proposed two options for collecting information:  1) require reporting of information from all CAFOs in the U.S., or 2) identify specific watersheds where CAFO discharges may be causing water quality concerns and obtain information only from CAFOs in these areas.  NACWA recommended in its comments that EPA use the first option to obtain “a complete cross-section of data that will provide for comparisons of CAFO operations across the country.”

NACWA also urged EPA to collect the complete list of 14 information items listed in the settlement agreement.  In the proposal, EPA recommends asking for only five items, which would exclude important information regarding the quantity of manure, process wastewater, and litter generated by CAFOs; the nutrient management and record-keeping practices used by the CAFO if it land-applies its waste; and alternate uses of CAFO waste.  As NACWA stated, “compared to the information required from POTWs and other point sources, these 14 items in the settlement agreement are certainly not overly onerous.”  NACWA also emphasized the importance of addressing all pollution sources to improve water quality.  NACWA will notify members when EPA finalizes this proposal and will keep members informed about other regulatory and legislative initiatives to control pollution from agricultural sources as developments occur.

Integrated Planning Effort Gathers Momentum in the Senate; WIFIA Concept Also Being Explored

As part of NACWA’s Money Matters…Smarter Investment to Advance Clean Water™ initiative, the Association received word that Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) plans to introduce legislation to reauthorize the wet weather grants program and include language that NACWA offered requiring EPA to move forward with its integrated planning effort.  Because this legislation contains a grant component to fund wet weather projects, it is unlikely to receive Republican support.  As such, NACWA is continuing to meet with key Senators, including John Boozman (R-Ark.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Jim Webb (D-Va.) to promote a separate, bipartisan integrated planning bill that mirrors the language that would be included in the Brown bill but would not have a funding component.  These pieces of legislation would allow communities to utilize an integrated planning approach to help address affordability concerns, prioritize water quality investments, and expand permit terms up to 25 years under certain circumstances.  Senator Boozman has agreed to sponsor the bill and NACWA is in the process of identifying a Democratic co-sponsor.  NACWA hopes that legislation can be introduced by the end of February.

Also on the legislative front, NACWA, along with the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN), met with the minority staff of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee to discuss the introduction of a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), modeled after the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) in the transportation bill.  The WIFIA legislation, like the TIFIA, would set up a loan guaranty program that would provide low-cost capital to water and wastewater utility investments in infrastructure.  On the House side, Congressman Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) introduced legislation last year which included a WIFIA program that was funded via a clean water trust fund over-and-above expanded funding levels for the state revolving loan fund (SRF) program.  The Senate EPW minority staff has agreed to draft a stand-alone WIFIA proposal and NACWA anticipates that the Senate language will look similar to the WIFIA language found in Mr. Bishop’s bill.  NACWA will be seeking to ensure that any legislation seeking to create a WIFIA program is structured appropriately and does not come at the expense of annual appropriations for the SRF.

NACWA will share these legislative proposals with the membership once they become available.

Have You Registered? Join NACWA’s Communications & Public Relations Committee via the Web for a Discussion on Integrated Planning

NACWA’s Communications & Public Relations (PR) Committee is holding a web-based, virtual committee meeting on February 2, 2012 at 2:00 pm Eastern.  Please join us, free of charge, and participate in the discussion on the need for a strong messaging and communications strategy in the context of EPA’s new integrated planning and regulatory prioritization initiative.  Registration and the preliminary agenda  for NACWA’s committee meeting are both available on NACWA’s website.  During the call both Annie Kolb-Nelson, Public Information Officer with the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks in Seattle, Washington, and Pamela Mooring, Communications Manager with DC Water in Washington, D.C. will provide informative case studies on their public utilities’ need for the integrated planning approach and successful strategies for getting the message out to their communities, decision-makers, and ratepayers.

If your public agency is interested in becoming more involved in public relations issues, the Association strongly encourages you or your appropriate staff to join NACWA’s PR Committee and to participate in the February 2 web-based meeting.  To become a member of the PR Committee please contact Thea Graybill at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  To register for the call, please go to NACWA’s website by clicking here.

Winter Conference Hotel Deadline Extended until Friday, January 27

Time is running out for you to join NACWA, February 12 – 15, 2012 at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza, for Watershed Moment in the Making...Conquering the Challenges of the New Regulatory Frontier.  This year’s Winter Conference program will focus on the increasing regulatory requirements clean water utilities are facing and the emerging suite of creative and cutting-edge solutions and strategies being employed to address these regulatory pressures.  Registration for NACWA’s Conference, the agenda , and a registered participants list  are available for download.  The deadline to make your hotel reservations with the  Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza has been extended to Friday, January 27.  Be sure to contact the Omni at 213.617.3300 to guarantee the special conference rate of $199 single/double.  Please mention that you are a participant in NACWA’s 2012 Winter Conference. Visit www.nacwa.org/12winter for more details.