Clean Water Current Archive

October 31, 2008

House Hearing on Stimulus Bill Puts Spotlight on Wastewater Infrastructure Investment

The Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee held a hearing Oct. 29 on “Investing in Infrastructure: The Road to Recovery,” which featured 19 witnesses and a significant focus on wastewater infrastructure funding as a key component of any future stimulus package.  NACWA submitted written testimony for the record, which called on Congress to include $10 billion for wastewater infrastructure in the bill.  The Association’s position was supported by several key witnesses, including Louisville, Ky., Mayor Jerry E. Abramson, testifying for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, who noted that “Congress should allocate an additional $18.75 billion directly to cities as grants to assist with rehabilitating aging water and sewer infrastructure, complying with sewer overflow issues, and promoting source water protection” via a second stimulus package.  Similar testimony was provided by Judith Enck, New York deputy secretary for the environment, and Terry Dillon, president of the National Utility Contractors Association, both of whom referenced NACWA’s ready-to-go wastewater project list and echoed the Association’s call for $10 billion to pay for the projects in any future stimulus bill.  The testimony of these and other key witnesses is available on the T&I Committee’s website.

Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), chair of the committee, and Ranking Member John Mica (R-Fla.) spoke of the need to have wastewater projects in the stimulus package on several occasions during the hearing.  Oberstar also noted that stimulus legislation would generally follow the lines of an earlier stimulus bill (H.R. 7110) that passed the House, but stalled in the Senate prior to recess.  That bill contained $6.5 billion for wastewater infrastructure.  Oberstar told reporters later that the new version likely would have higher funding levels.  NACWA also issued a press release to ensure coverage of its position in the media.

On the same day, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, held a press conference in California calling for more infrastructure funding as a way to help California’s and the Nation’s the economy.  Specifically, she said “Additional investment in our nation’s water infrastructure is more than just an investment in America’s public health and safety — it also supports jobs in communities across the country.”

Congress is set to return Nov. 17 in order to consider a stimulus bill.  NACWA has met with staff for House members and Senators in the past two weeks, and will continue to set up such meetings, to urge inclusion of and support for wastewater infrastructure funding in any stimulus package.  The Association continues to update its list of ready-to-go projects submitted by member agencies that currently totals more than $3 billion and has used this information to build support for more wastewater funding in the stimulus bill. If you have not yet shared such information with NACWA, please contact Byron DeLuke at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dick Lanyon Provides Insight into Chicago’s Work on Sewer Overflow Control, Biosolids

Dick Lanyon, general superintendent of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, provided a detailed overview of the rich history and water quality leadership of his utility at NACWA’s Utility Executives Perspectives Luncheon this week.  In particular, Lanyon focused on Chicago’s enormous investment in its Tunnel and Reservoir Program (TARP) to control sewer overflows and its historical leadership in the biosolids arena, from playing a vital role in the development of EPA’s Part 503 program to consistently furthering the safety of its biosolids land application program.  Lanyon also spoke of the difficulties of running a large urban system where a multiplicity of different jurisdictions can, at times, make planning a difficult challenge.  The audience for Lanyon’s presentation included staff from a broad array of Washington, D.C.-based organizations that work closely with NACWA, including the National League of Cities, the American Public Works Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, Food & Water Watch, and American Rivers, among others.

NACWA’s executive luncheons are informal sessions  that feature presentations by a utility executive about the specific local water quality challenges his/her agency faces and, perhaps more importantly, the innovative solutions they are using to meet those challenges.   These discussions allow these key organizations to learn about the important work the nation’s clean water agencies do every day and to ask basic questions that they may not feel comfortable asking in other, more formal settings.

Previous speakers have included Andrew Brunhart, then-general manager of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC); Karen Pallansch, general manager of the Alexandria Sanitation Authority in Virginia; and Thomas Sigmund, executive director of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District (GBMSD).  NACWA schedules a Utility Executives Perspectives Luncheon approximately every two months and will continue this effort throughout 2009.  The Association is also seeking geographic diversity and looks forward to hearing from public member agency leaders interested in providing a luncheon presentation during scheduled trips to the D.C. area.  Please contact Adam Krantz at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202/833-4651 if you would like to make a presentation at one of these events.

CLE Credits Approved For Law Seminar

NACWA has received a number of state Continuing Legal Education (CLE) approvals for the 2008 Developments in Clean Water Law Seminar, scheduled for Nov. 12-14 at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C.   Thus far, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have given approval with more expected from Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia.  Individuals from other states may also be eligible for CLE credits via reciprocity with one of the states granting approval.  Registration is still available for the Seminar, which promises to deliver a dynamic and engaging program.   Many of the nation’s best clean water attorneys will be serving as speakers, and the Seminar will also feature the top officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency including Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator for water, who will address EPA efforts on climate change, and Granta Nakayama, assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance.  There will also be a special presentation by Amy Walter, editor of The Hotline and a noted political commentator, to analyze the November elections.  Other topics to be addressed at the Seminar include nutrient regulations, climate change, stormwater developments, biosolids management, and wet weather enforcement actions.  The agenda and information are available on NACWA’s website.  We hope to see you in November!

DHS Offers Webinar on Voluntary Emergency Preparedness Program

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering a free web-based conference to provide an overview of the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program to Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource (CIKR) owners and operators (water and wastewater utilities are considered part of the “private sector” by DHS).  This program will establish a common set of criteria for emergency preparedness, with a goal of enhancing nationwide, all-hazards resilience.  During the webinar, DHS will provide information and begin engagement of the CIKR sectors on the scope, development, and implementation of the Program.  The webinar is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm EST, with an identical session on Monday, Nov. 10, from 1:00 to 2:30 pm EST.  More information and registration can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/756307880.  NACWA recommends that utilities consider taking part in one of these webinars to contribute to the development of this DHS program.