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Kirk Retirement
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active role in the courts; continuously providing timely and
informative analysis of the regulatory, legislative and judicial
initiatives; and changing the name of AMSA (the Association of
Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies) to NACWA, to appropriately
reflect its membership’s significant role in assuring clean water
in his remark.
He also cited NACWA’s prominent and successful role in numer-
ous advocacy areas, including pursuing short and long-term
funding mechanisms to meet expanding infrastructure needs;
working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
to establish the National Pretreatment Program; ensuring that
the final Section 503 sludge regulations were reasonable and
based on sound science; developing a National Combined Sewer
Overflow Policy which acknowledges that the concept of “zero
discharge” is not viable; NACWA’s proactive representation of
its member’s interests on privatization; development of a post
9-11 vulnerability assessment tool; and, the formation of the U.S.
Water Alliance to affect a needed transition to view water—and
its many associated issues—holistically. Recent Association ac-
complishments, as embodied in Congressional action mandat-
ing that the federal government pay its fair share of storm water
abatement costs; the successful defeat of the NRDC petition to
change the definition of secondary treatment; and, the role of the
Association’s Money Matters campaign in integrated planning
and permitting, flexible priority setting, and viable affordability
determinations – were called out as key steps toward NACWA’s
objective of an equitable watershed-based approach.
‘Our job is not done. . .’
“Of course, our job is not done and we face significant chal-
lenges in the future.” Kirk said. “We must continue to focus at-
tention on the need for a National wet weather policy. We need
to continue to highlight the inequities of focusing all efforts
to control nutrients on the point source sector. We need to ad-
dress the critical issue of climate as it relates to our future re-
siliency and sustainability. We need to work to implement the
recommendations of our Utility of the Future blueprint. And,
ultimately, 40 years after the enactment of the Clean Water Act,
it is becoming increasingly clear that we have to re-dedicate
ourselves to changing the national clean water paradigm to
meet the needs of the 21st century.” “And speaking of the needs
of the 21st century. . ., Kirk went on the say, “. . .NACWA is also
at a point where change is essential. For me, the time is right to
move on and allow the NACWA leadership the space it needs to
transition towards the future. As I stand here today, I am not
going to say good-bye. I am going to say thank you for an amaz-
ing ride. I am a very fortunate and lucky guy to have had the
opportunity to be associated with this incredible organization
for as long as I have.” Kirk said in closing to a standing
ovation.
P
lans are underway for NACWA’s 2013
National Clean Water
Law Seminar
, November 20-22, in historic San Antonio,
Texas. The only conference of its kind dedicated specifical-
ly to municipal clean water legal issues, the
Law Seminar
has
a tradition of delivering timely and engaging programs on the latest,
most important legal developments impacting clean water attorneys
and utility managers. This year’s agenda promises to be equally
informative, covering a variety of topics including integrated plan-
ning, affordability, consent decrees, stormwater management, nu-
trients, and more. And as always, the Seminar will feature a review
of the most important Clean Water Act cases of the past year – along
with an update on recent enforcement trends. Continuing Legal
Education (CLE) credits, including ethics credits, will be available.
Registration information and a preliminary agenda for the
Seminar
will be available soon on
NACWA’s website
.
Key Legal Developments
Featured at Law Seminar
NACWA Executive Director, Ken Kirk, will retire in July 2015
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