Clean Water Current Archive

February 27, 2009

NACWA Applauds Obama FY 2010 Budget Proposal with $3.9 Billion for SRFs

President Obama released his budget proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2010 yesterday that includes $3.9 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The proposal does not outline how the money will be split between the two SRFs, but indicates that more than 1,000 clean water projects and nearly 700 drinking water projects will be funded annually based on average costs. A more detailed plan is set to arrive during the first week in April. The proposal also contains $475 million for a new EPA-led, interagency Great Lakes restoration initiative which will target the most significant problems in the region, including non-point source pollution. The total EPA budget would be about $10.5 billion. NACWA issued a press release expressing its strong support for the funding increases, which represent a significant step toward addressing the water and wastewater infrastructure crisis. While Democratic leaders have indicated their support for Obama’s proposal, Republican House and Senate members have called for a freeze on federal spending levels and have stated they want to roll back some of Obama’s proposed spending increases. NACWA will continue to work aggressively with Congress to ensure strong support for these funding levels as this important legislation is considered.

House Passes FY 2009 Spending Bill, Including $689 Million for CWSRF

Meanwhile, a day earlier, the House of Representatives voted 245-178 to approve a $410 billion omnibus spending bill for FY 2009. The sweeping measure covers the nine FY 2009 appropriations bills that were never voted on by the 110th Congress and includes funding for all environment-related programs, including the CWSRF and DWSRF. EPA would receive $7.6 billion, which is $74 million above the FY 2008 level. The SRF programs are funded at $1.5 billion, including $689 million for the CWSRF and $829 million for the DWSRF. The bill also contains $145 million for state and tribal assistance grants (STAG) for drinking and wastewater infrastructure systems and $154 million for the nation’s great water bodies including the Great Lakes, Puget Sound, and the Chesapeake Bay. The legislation now goes to the Senate where Majority Leader Harry Reid said that he would seek to pass the bill before the current continuing resolution expires March 6.

NACWA, NGOs Meet to Discuss Watershed, Nonpoint Source Issues

NACWA met with representatives from the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Thursday to discuss potential joint advocacy efforts on watershed and nonpoint source issues. The meeting focused on ways the different organizations can collaborate to improve water quality through better control of nonpoint and agricultural sources. The organizations provided some input on NACWA’s forthcoming Watershed Act and is poised to work with NACWA on a joint white paper or statement of principles regarding the need to better regulate nonpoint sources. The meeting was a continuation of a dialogue started last year among NACWA, ELPC, and NRDC on ways to address the growing problem of agricultural and non-point source water pollution. NACWA looks forward to additional collaboration with these groups on this pressing issue in the coming months.

NACWA Launches Survey of Members Regarding Green Projects

NACWA requests that members complete a brief survey that stems from the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which contains funding for publicly-owned treatment works (POTWs) and drinking water utilities to undertake projects in green infrastructure, energy-efficiency improvements, water-efficiency improvements, and other environmentally innovative activities. NACWA is surveying its members to determine the level of interest in applying for these funds. This information will help NACWA advocate on behalf of more funding for these types of initiatives and understand better how stimulus dollars are being spent. The survey contains five brief but important questions and should take no more than a few minutes to complete. Your help is sincerely appreciated.

Hotel Deadline for NACWA Pretreatment Workshop Extended to March 10

An informative agenda for NACWA’s 2009 National Pretreatment and Pollution Prevention Workshop, March 25-27 in Charlotte, N.C. is planned and the hotel registration deadline has been extended to March 10. The workshop, Pretreatment and Source Control – Providing the Foundation for Clean Water’s Future, will begin with an update on the National Pretreatment Program from EPA Headquarters staff, including development of new Effluent Limitation Guidelines for the Airport Deicing and Health Services categories. This will be followed by a roundtable discussion of EPA’s proposed pretreatment performance measures— including their purpose and implications for wastewater utilities and state regulators — featuring Jan Pickrel, EPA’s National Pretreatment Team coordinator; Jennifer Dodd, pretreatment coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation; and representatives from two NACWA member agencies. Pretreatment professionals have worked to control pollutants from industrial users for years, and now their role in source control is expanding. Panel presentations will focus on the role of pretreatment programs in controlling stormwater controls, emerging contaminants, and mercury from dental amalgam. Registration is available online, and an updated draft agenda is available on NACWA’s Conferences and Professional Development webpage. The deadline for reserving a room at the Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte, North Carolina has been extended to March 10. Please contact the hotel at 704/547-7444 and reference NACWA’s Pretreatment Workshop to receive the special group rate of $149 per night.

Register Today for the CSO Workshop!

Registration is now underway for the 2009 Workshop on National Perspectives, Developments, and Advanced CSO Solutions, scheduled for April 22-24 at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. This popular annual event, cosponsored by NACWA and the Wet Weather Partnership, is the leading national conference designed specifically for municipal officials and their consultants and attorneys in communities with combined sewer overflow (CSO) systems. Topics include an overview of regulatory and legislative action under a new president and congress, discussion of schedules and performance capability of CSO long-term control plans, analysis of the impact of the recent economic downturn on financial capability, and a presentation on the use of green infrastructure as part of CSO management plans. Invited speakers include experts on CSO issues from municipal utilities, consulting and engineering firms, and officials from EPA Office of Water. Registration information and a copy of the Workshop agenda are available by visiting the Conferences & Professional Development page of the NACWA website. Registration slots are filling up quickly so be sure and sign up today!