» Clean Water Current Archive

June 28, 2013

Obama Releases Climate Change Plan; NACWA Provides Clean Water Perspective

On Tuesday, President Obama unveiled a comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CAP) which includes proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and better prepare the country for the impacts of climate change. Climate change has been a priority concern for the wastewater sector, and NACWA has reached out to the Administration to ensure that, as the plan is implemented, the clean water community is fully engaged. In response to the CAP, NACWA sent President Obama a letter  that details how clean water agency leaders are key first responders to extreme weather events and encouraging the Administration to call upon NACWA and its members to help determine how best to target new climate change policies and investments. More information on the CAP can be found in this Advocacy Alert, and we will provide updates on this initiative as they become available.

NACWA’s Blog of the Week also featured the President’s plan. The blog, Obama’s New Climate Plan: Engaging the Water Sector discussed how climate change is increasingly becoming a central focus for many NACWA members who are either located in coastal regions that are being ravaged by extreme storm events and sea level rise, or who are in States that are taking aggressive action to reduce their carbon footprint. It discusses how clean water agencies are leading local resiliency efforts to help their communities adapt to climate-related impacts such as rising sea levels, increased droughts and floods, and extreme storm events. Don’t forget a new blog is posted every Wednesday, subscribe today and don’t miss a post.

130 Representatives Sign on to Letter Opposing Changes to Muni Bond Tax Exemption

Representatives Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and Randy Hultgren (R-IL) were successful in securing 130 signatures for their “Dear Colleague” letter  to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), urging them to support municipal bonds and oppose proposals to cap or eliminate the tax exemption for municipal bond interest. More information on this letter can be found in NACWA Advocacy Alert-AA 13-08. NACWA would like to thank all of its members that contacted their representatives and urged them to support this initiative.

The importance of maintaining municipal bond’s tax-exempt status was further accentuated this week in a New York Times front-page article reporting that increased interest rates have led to the steepest decline in the municipal bond market since the 2008 financial crisis. In related news, the National League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors released a new report, U.S. Metro Economies: Job Impact of Proposals to Limit the Municipal Bond Market , which estimates a projected loss of 311,000 jobs and $24 billion in GDP if the Obama Administration’s proposal to cap the municipal bond tax exemption at 28% was implemented. NACWA is finalizing an analysis of the potential impacts to the Nation’s clean water agencies from proposed tax changes to municipal bonds and the report, funded from NACWA’s Targeted Action Fund (TAF) with support from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), will be available to members in time for NACWA’s Summer Conference in Cincinnati July 14-17.

NRDC Beach Report Shows Improvement on Beach Closures

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) issued its 23rd Annual Beach Report this week showing a total of 20,120 beach closing and advisory days in 2012, a decrease of 14 percent from 2011. Testing the Waters 2013 identifies sewage spills and overflows as the least known source of pollution, representing only 10 percent of total closings and advisories. Polluted runoff and stormwater, including contamination from birds and other animal sources of bacteria, account for the greatest known sources of pollution that caused closings and advisories in 2012, comprising 28 percent of total closings and advisories. Additionally, the report shows a reduction in monitoring samples that exceed EPA’s health standards, from 8 percent in 2011 to 7 percent in 2012.

The report also advocates for increases to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and more widespread implementation of green infrastructure solutions to maintain water quality progress. NACWA’s July 10 blog post on The Water Voice will comment on the report and be shared with key media outlets. Member Agencies receiving press inquiries related to the Report should feel free to direct reporters to NACWA for a national perspective via Claire Moser at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-533-1801.

Utility of the Future Steering Committee Discusses Key Initiatives, Next Steps

The Water Resources Utility of the Future (UOTF) Steering Committee met via conference call this week to discuss progress key initiatives and next steps for NACWA, the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF). Following the release of the Water Resources Utility of the Future. . . Blueprint for Action  in January, the three organizations have started to advance UOTF priorities through research, advocacy, and communications/outreach initiatives. NACWA’s April release of the Water Resources Utility of the Future – A Call For Federal Action reflects the Association’s advocacy initiatives in this regard. The Steering Committee agreed to continue its work to provide high-level, strategic oversight to ensure that the organizations are working to achieve the goals set out in the Blueprint, and wherever possible, to collaborate on shared objectives and agreed to hold discussions quarterly throughout the year. NACWA, WERF and WEF are continuing to collaborate on the development of legislation, on support for energy policies that recognize the role of clean water agencies in helping move the country toward energy independence, and on efforts to bring innovative approaches and technologies to the marketplace. These and numerous other efforts that the organizations are engaged in under the UOTF umbrella will be detailed in a Member Update that will be distributed next week.

NACWA Meets with Intergovernmental Relations, Smart Growth Offices at EPA

NACWA participated in two meetings this week with officials from EPA — one with Office of Sustainable Communities, often referred to as the ‘Smart Growth Office’, and the other with the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations (OCIR). On Tuesday, NACWA met with John Frece, Director of the Office of Sustainable Communities (OSC) and key staff to discuss OSC’s work on green infrastructure and its recent engagement on projects involving clean water agencies. With no regulatory responsibilities, OSC seeks to provide technical assistance and other support to state and local governments in an effort to promote smart growth approaches. The office has expressed an interest in the growing number of clean water consent decrees that incorporate or seek to incorporate green infrastructure and how those investments can be further leveraged to benefit a community’s overall smart growth initiatives. NACWA and OSC committed to further communication to exchange information and explore opportunities to collaborate.

On Thursday, NACWA met with Mark Rupp, the new Deputy Associate Administrator for Intergovernmental Relations in OCIR. Rupp and his staff are charged with working with state and local governments to ensure their voices are heard as policies and rules are developed by EPA. The initial discussion with Rupp focused on President Obama’s Climate Action Plan (see related story) and the important role that state and local governments are expected to play in its implementation. NACWA stressed the important voice the clean water community brings to the issue and welcomed the opportunity to work with Rupp, as well as others at EPA and other federal agencies going forward.

Siloxane Agreement Expected by August

EPA announced this week that negotiations on an enforceable consent agreement (ECA) for environmental monitoring for two siloxanes, D4 and D5, would be extended until August 27, 2013. EPA and the Silicone Environmental Health & Safety Council of North America (SEHSC) have been negotiating on the ECA since June 2012, with an original deadline of December 27, 2012. NACWA, as an interested party, has provided information during the negotiations because of the detrimental effects of siloxanes on the exhaust stages of boilers, engines, and other equipment when biogas is used as a renewable fuel by publicly owned treatment works (POTWs).

SEHSC communicated with NACWA this week that an agreement has been reached by EPA and SEHSC that includes sampling at ten POTWs – five with siloxane-producing facilities discharging to them and five without. Details on sampling and testing are still being negotiated. SEHSC has hired a consultant to identify possible POTWs for sampling. Some NACWA members have indicated their willingness to participate in sampling, and the Association provided SEHSC with these volunteers. Other NACWA member agencies that may be interested in participating in the sampling, or in reviewing the ECA before the Association approves it, should contact Cynthia Finley at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Time is Short. . .But We Still Have a Spot for you in Cincinnati!

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. A detailed program   and other information on making your plans are available on NACWA’s website. While the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza no longer has any rooms available, NACWA has secured a small overflow block close by at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati. The Hyatt is continuing to extend the conference room rate of $160 per night (single/double), plus applicable taxes. To ensure a hotel room, contact the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati at 888.421.1442 and be sure to identify yourself as a NACWA attendee. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Clean Water Current will be on hiatus next week in observance
of the 4th of July holiday. Look for our next issue on Friday, July 12th.
We wish you a wonderful Independence Day!