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With the March 1-2 Money Matters Summit and Fly-In in Washington, D.C., just around the corner, NACWA wanted to provide its members with some key information regarding the Money Matters — Smarter Investment to Advance Clean Water campaign.  This includes some of the key federal activities and Association advocacy initiatives that are the focus of the Summit, and the important role your agency’s input plays in terms of the campaign’s success.  NACWA greatly appreciates the many members whose generous contributions to the Money Matters effort have made these important efforts possible.  Those members who may still wish to provide a contribution to, or want to learn more about, the campaign can contact Adam Krantz at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202/833-4651.

Federal Activities Focus on Budget Cuts, Regulatory Reform

As you know, the political landscape in the Nation’s Capital has shifted dramatically.  As the Administration and Congress begin their  budget negotiations for both fiscal year 2011 and 2012, the core issue is not about whether to cut the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and the national clean water program’s budget but, instead, the debate is over how much to cut.  

At the same time, the issue of regulatory reform and the need to do more with less are on virtually all national policy-makers’ priority agendas.  President Obama issued a January 18, 2011 Executive Order stating that “our regulatory system must protect public health, welfare, safety and our environment while promoting economic growth, innovation, competitiveness and job creation. . . . It must identify and use the best, most innovative and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. It must take into account benefits and costs, both quantitative and qualitative [emphasis added].”  At the same time, the U.S. House of Representatives has regulatory oversight and reform, with a focus on EPA, on the top of its agenda and the Senate is echoing these same concerns. 

Despite these trends, EPA continues to advance an aggressive clean water agenda with increased funding for wet weather enforcement activity and regulations on stormwater, incineration, and nutrient control all advancing.  Key leaders from EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) and Office of Water will be at the Summit to discuss their perspectives on these issues as will key Members of Congress, including Reps. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), and Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio), among others.

NACWA’s Money Matters Campaign — Key Advocacy Steps

There is a growing recognition that the Clean Water Act (CWA) has operated with insufficient attention to the economic realities being faced by the nation’s municipalities.  Every regulatory issue is deemed a priority while cost is too often ignored. The current political and economic landscape offers a unique opportunity to make the case that such an approach is not viable, sustainable or acceptable.

With this in mind, NACWA is excited to announce that it has hired Lajuana Wilcher, former EPA Assistant Administrator for Water and Secretary of Kentucky’s Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, to work with NACWA and key members to draft legislation that would amend the CWA and create a new planning process to prioritize CWA regulations, including but not limited to wet weather and nutrient policies.  The legislation will ensure that municipal flexibility is maximized and that affordability and financial capability concerns are addressed based on complex and often shifting community conditions while also accounting for changing economic circumstances.  This legislation will be drafted with input from key NACWA members and is expected to be in final form for NACWA’s May National Clean Water Policy Forum. 

NACWA has also been assured that key Representatives and Senators will soon be introducing legislation calling on EPA to review and rework its outdated approach to CWA affordability determinations — legislation that NACWA strongly supports.  Key Members of Congress and their staff will be on hand at the Summit to discuss this legislation further. 

Also, NACWA will be releasing in advance of the Summit its Money Matters White Paper titled Two Sides of the Same Coin . . . Increased Investment & Regulatory Prioritization.  This White Paper takes an economist’s approach, overlaying federal investment trends with some disturbing data on the apparent reversal of the water quality gains clean water agencies have achieved in the decades following the 1972 enactment of the CWA.  The White Paper also explores the economic benefits of a new approach to regulatory prioritization while also seeking some solutions to the underlying challenge of an aging clean water infrastructure system.  NACWA will also be providing its members with a glossy tri-fold that can be used in tandem with the Money Matters two-pager as a congressional leave-behind in order to paint an effective and clear picture of the CWA challenges municipalities currently face and the solutions needed to get to the next generation of water quality improvements.   

Success of Summit and Campaign Relies on Member Agency Input, Capitol Hill Visits

On the morning of March 1, public agencies should come prepared to discuss the unique challenges their utilities face in terms of CWA compliance from the local vantage-point.  Both anecdotal information as well as key data will be shared in an informal setting among peers and key policymakers from EPA, Congress and the NGO community.  NACWA’s private affiliate attendees will also be given an opportunity to discuss their perspectives on how best to stretch local dollars to maximize environmental benefit. 

Please also note that the discussion is not about rolling back the CWA, but how to prioritize the array of competing regulatory requirements in a manner that makes the most sense for the environment and the ratepayer. 

The afternoon of March 1 is devoted to visiting Capitol Hill and bringing the Money Matters message to your Representatives and Senators and their staff.  NACWA recognizes that time spent with your Members of Congress is valuable and often needs to focus on specific local issues.  NACWA asks that you overlay your discussions with the Money Matters message and share our leave-behind packets with your Members of Congress.  These visits are critical to the success of the effort and NACWA has set aside time on the morning of March 2 for a debrief session to discuss how the Money Matters message was received and how we can improve our advocacy and communications efforts going forward.  To review relevant background material, please visit the Money Matters — Smarter Investment to Advance Clean Water website.

Ultimately, however, the March 1-2 Summit is just the beginning and it will be critical for all members to continue to bring the campaign’s platform before their local, state and national elected and appointed officials. For those members traveling to D.C. next week, we look forward to an engaging discussion.  The Association will, of course, update the full membership of developments on the Money Matters campaign as they occur.  Again, if you have any questions regarding the Summit please contact Adam Krantz at 202/833-4651 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .