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june/july 2012
Inside
NACWA Busy in the Courtroom.... 2
Suzanne Goss Elected NACWA
President ....................................... 3
New Online Tools........................... 4
New NACWA Members................. 5
Social Media Web Seminars........... 6
Excellence in Utility Management
Honorees. ...................................... 7
Mourning the Passing of
Steve Pearlman. ............................. 7
Suzanne Goss was elected NACWA President for
2012 - 2013 on July 15. Goss is the Government
Relations Specialist for JEA (Electric, Water & Sewer)
in Jacksonville, Florida.
NACWA recently released the Association’s
2011 Financial Survey
(
Survey
). Since 1981,
NACWA has conducted a triennial financial survey of its membership to provide clean
water agencies, government officials, and the public, important insight into the fi-
nancing and management of clean water utilities. In addition to the full
Survey
report
that is now available electronically on NACWA’s
, NACWA also developed
a hardcopy
that highlights the key findings and conclusions from
the Survey. Together the full downloadable Survey report and the highlights docu-
ment provide a complete picture of how clean water utility managers continue to bal-
ance providing wastewater collection and treatment services with responsibly manag-
ing their community’s resources.
NACWA Releases
2011 Financial Survey
NACWA Applauds Integrated Planning
Framework, Testifies Before
Congress on Implementation
T
he June 12 release of U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA)
for integrated municipal storm-
water and wastewater planning was
applauded by NACWA, but concerns remain over
the extent to which the framework will provide
meaningful relief for many of the Nation’s strug-
gling communities. The framework is intended to
provide a foundation for new and continued discus-
sions between clean water utilities and the govern-
ment – whether state or federal – on how best to
sequence their clean water investments.
The framework was developed by EPA in response to
strong criticism fromNACWA and other stakehold-
ers that the Agency was simply asking communities
to do too much. The final framework includes new
and expanded discussions on adaptive management
and financial capability that better describe EPA’s
intent and provide important, additional clarity for
utilities as they begin to explore use of the frame-
work.
Implementation Viewed as Critical
Work to ensure that EPA’s framework succeeds,
however, is just beginning. NACWA members are
exploring use of the framework and the Association,
in a
, emphasized that implementa-
tion will need to be actively fostered by everyone
involved. EPA has indicated that it plans to be an
active participant in encouraging use of the frame-
work. While EPA involvement is essential, NACWA
believes that the Agency must also ensure it estab-
lishes and follows clear guidelines that give the lead
role to authorized states.
Some public utilities have expressed concern that
the complexity in managing the differences between
the wastewater and stormwater permitting regimes
may be stifling municipal efforts to explore inte-
grated planning outside of an enforcement context.
In response, the Agency plans to maintain ongoing
communication with its regional offices and autho-
rized states on implementation of the framework to
help address potential roadblocks. The absence of
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
»
A
Clear
Commitment to America’s Waters
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
»
National Association of
Clean Water Agencies
1816 Jefferson Place, NW
Washington DC 20036-2505
p
202.833.2672
f
202.833.4657
info@nacwa.org •
www.nacwa.org
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