» Clean Water Current Archive

June 14, 2013

NACWA Briefs Top Water Office Official on Financial Capability

NACWA provided Nancy Stoner, acting assistant administrator for the Office of Water, and other key EPA staff an overview of the Association’s new white paper, The Evolving Landscape for Financial Capability Assessment – Clean Water Act Negotiations & the Opportunities of Integrated Planning, this week during the water sector’s bi-monthly meeting with the water office leadership.  NACWA highlighted how the cash-flow forecasting approach -- outlined in its paper -- would provide a more accurate assessment of spending needs and burden on the community over the lifespan of a utility project than the current snapshot method employed by the Agency.  While EPA remains resistant to revising its 1997 financial capability guidance, Stoner expressed significant interest in the new approach and recommended similar discussions with EPA’s enforcement staff.  NACWA plans to meet with water and enforcement office staff to provide more detail on the paper in the coming weeks, and is working to schedule a broader discussion on affordability with top officials.  
 
The Agency is planning to provide some policy direction in the coming months on what additional factors and metrics can be included when assessing financial capability.  NACWA hopes to influence the content of whatever EPA releases.  Also during the meeting, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) provided an overview of their new affordability assessment tool, developed with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the American Water Works Association.  The tool and accompanying report outline a range of alternative indicators for assessing affordability that are intended to help utilities within the current framework for financial capability assessment established by EPA’s 1997 guidance.  

Senate Passes 5-Year Farm Bill, Includes Support for Nutrient Management Activities 

The Senate reauthorized the Farm Bill on Monday by a vote of 66 to 27.  The bill establishes a new program called the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which incentivizes non-agricultural entities, such as wastewater utilities, to partner with local agricultural producers to implement conservation practices.  S. 954 contains language advocated for by NACWA and the Healthy Waters Coalition (HWC) which would ensure that nutrient management activities receive priority conservation funding -- and allow farmers that are part of a partnership agreement to receive five-year contracts and special payments for such activities.  The bill also contains new language that clarifies that municipal water and wastewater entities are eligible partners under the RCPP.  It specifically sites partnerships that execute innovative water quality improvement measures as eligible for conservation funding -- a significant development toward more effective nutrient management practices on the farm.  
 
The House of Representatives is expected to begin consideration of the Farm Bill later this month.   The House Farm Bill, which passed out of the House Agriculture Committee in May, did not contain the previously mentioned language.  NACWA and the HWC will be working to ensure that the language is ultimately included in a final package.

Rep. Blumenauer Crafts Voluntary Trust Fund Bill

Staff for Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) told NACWA and other members of the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) this week that the Congressman is crafting a bill to establish a voluntary clean water trust fund.  Under Rep. Blumenauer's proposal, the makers of water-based beverages and flushable products could receive the right display a clean water logo on their products in exchange for a 2 to 3-cent per purchase fee.  The revenue from this fee would go to the trust fund to replenish the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.  Rep. Blumenauer is also considering whether penalties from Clean Water Act violations could be directed to the fund.  As the bill is drafted, a Republican co-sponsor is being sought.  NACWA and WIN will be providing comments on the draft bill and working to help secure bipartisan support for the legislation.

White House to Hold Forum on Financing Water Infrastructure

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) this week announced plans to convene, with EPA, a forum focused on Financing the Water Infrastructure of the Future.  Scheduled for July 1, the forum will explore innovative financing opportunities for water infrastructure, specifically focusing on green infrastructure and public-private partnerships.  The preliminary agenda includes presentations from CEQ, EPA, the National Economic Council, the Government Accountability Office, and a number of local organizations.  The forum is slated to conclude with a strategy session to discuss policy priorities.  NACWA National Office staff leadership will join a number of the Association's Member Agencies participating in the forum.

South Korean Delegation Visits NACWA to Discuss Clean Water Challenges & Solutions

NACWA met this week with a delegation of South Korean water officials to discuss U.S. wastewater treatment practices and the respective roles of the municipal, state, and federal governments under the Clean Water Act (CWA).  As South Korea continues to expand its manufacturing and industrial base, key rivers, among them the Han River that runs through Seoul, are being put under increasing stress.  The South Korean delegation looked to NACWA as a resource with which to exchange ideas and experiences.  NACWA welcomed the delegation to the United States and engaged in a wide-ranging discussion of the successes of the CWA.  The Association also gave a sober account of the regulatory, enforcement and overall affordability-related challenges that communities are facing 40 years after the law’s enactment. The South Korean delegation expressed their sincere appreciation for the insights provided during the discussion.       

Vote for Water Infrastructure in Repair America Survey

The Repair America campaign was launched last month by the Blue-Green Alliance — partnership between environmental and labor organizations — to raise public awareness of the country’s aging infrastructure challenges.  As part of the campaign, which focuses on local infrastructure needs and job creation, the BlueGreen Alliance released a survey this week asking which infrastructure system should be given priority attention in their national campaign.  NACWA encourages its members to visit the BlueGreen Alliance’s Action Center to vote for water systems as your infrastructure priority by the end of this week.

Time is Short! Only a Few Weeks Left to Register!

NACWA’s Summer Conference & 43rd Annual Meeting, Managing & Financing the Resilient Clean Water Utility, July 14 - 17 in Cincinnati, is only a few weeks away!  The Conference will feature presentations on the management and financing approaches utilities are putting in place as they work to establish a more resilient and integrated business model.  A detailed program , and other information, is available on NACWA’s website.  The Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza is offering a room rate of $160 per night (single/double), plus applicable taxes.  Reservations must be made by Friday, June 21, 2013, to receive the special rate.  To ensure a hotel room, contact the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza at 513.421.9100.  Be sure to identify yourself as a NACWA attendee. 

NACWA Blog of the Week:
Looking Back to Move Forward . . . Learning from the Authors of the Clean Water Act

As the clean water community begins to focus more broadly on delivering environmental, economic, and social benefits, this week’s blog post begs the question -- Can the Clean Water Act (CWA) keep up?  New posts are made to NACWA’s blog, The Water Voice, each Wednesday, subscribe today and don’t miss a thing.