Clean Water Current Archive

February 29, 2008

NACWA Sends Comments on NRDC Nutrient Petition to EPA

NACWA submitted comments to EPA today on a petition seeking secondary treatment standards for nutrients expressing concern that the petition focused on technology-based solutions to reducing nutrient loadings.  The petition, filed in November 2007 by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and other environmental groups, calls on EPA to publish a report on the state of current technology for secondary treatment and to establish a national nutrient limit as part of secondary treatment regulations.  NACWA received a significant number of comments from its members and used them as a basis for its response.

NACWA’s comments questioned the legal basis for incorporating nutrient removal into secondary treatment, noted the petition’s failure to address the contribution to nutrient loadings from non-point sources, and said the cost to meet a national nutrient limit would be exorbitant, but provide little environmental benefit.  The comments also criticized the potential for increased negative environmental impacts resulting from a national nutrient limit and the inappropriateness of national nutrient limits for local and regional water quality issues.  Rather,NACWA believes site-specific water quality-based approaches are a more effective way to reduce nutrients than technology-based limits.  NACWA looks forward to working with EPA on this important issue and plans to meet with EPA staff in the coming weeks to further discuss the petition and NACWA’s concerns.

Oberstar, Blumenauer Host Meeting to Build Support, Set Strategy for Trust Fund Bill

Reps. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee,  hosted a discussion Feb. 27 to develop a strategy for moving clean water trust fund legislation, which both have acknowledged is a priority.  Rep. Blumenauer champions a trust fund bill as a way to “renew and revitalize the American economy.”  He distributed an outline for a trust fund bill that is based on draft Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) legislation from October 2005, which also served as the basis for trust fund legislation introduced in the 109th Congress.

The mission of the “Water Trust Fund,” according to the outline, is “to provide a deficit-neutral, consistent and fire-walled source of revenue to states to support the replacement, repair, and rehabilitation of clean and drinking water infrastructure.”  Chairman Oberstar reiterated his commitment to introducing trust fund legislation that would apply to wastewater only.  He pointed out that a federal role in addressing the funding crisis is appropriate because the nation’s waterways are interstate in nature and cross local and state boundaries, whereas drinking water does not have a similar interstate nature.  Moreover, the House T&I Committee does not have jurisdiction over Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) issues.  That would fall to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

In related activities, Oberstar and Blumenauer both signed on to a letter with Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), chair of the T&I Subcommittee on Water Resources & Environment, to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) seeking a study by next January of potential revenue sources for a trust fund.  This letter and the Feb. 27 meeting signal the growing momentum for a clean water trust fund with Blumenauer expressing a sense of urgency to solicit “help in the next couple of weeks in the drafting process.”  Moreover, he called for an all-out public education effort to generate support at the local community level.  He urged those in attendance to activate their local organizers to set up forums in each congressional district by the end of the year to facilitate conversations about the water infrastructure crisis and the need for a strong federal role in addressing it.  He also wants to make infrastructure and the need for funding a campaign issue as the presidential and congressional campaigns go into full swing.  NACWA and the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) have been working closely with Oberstar and Blumenauer and have provided significant input into the trust fund effort.  Meanwhile, NACWA is working through its Communications and Public Relations Committee on public education and outreach efforts that can support member agency initiatives to focus attention on this issue — and with other WIN organizations, such as Food and Water Watch, in support of their grassroots organizing on behalf of a trust fund.

National Clean Water Policy Forum Fast Approaching!  Register Today!

An agenda and registration materials for the 2008 National Clean Water Policy Forum, sponsored by NACWA and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), May 4 – 7, at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC, is now available online at NACWA’s website. The Forum provides a unique opportunity to hear the latest federal legislative, regulatory and legal developments straight from those who influence and craft national policy.  We have a great slate of speakers planned, including both the leaders and staff from key congressional committees and EPA.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn about current and emerging legislative, legal, and regulatory issues being considered by our nation’s policymakers today that may impact clean water utilities tomorrow.  Be sure to reserve your hotel room today by contacting the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel at 202.347.3000 to guarantee the special conference rate of $285 single/double occupancy.  We look forward to seeing you in D.C.!

NACWA, Conservation Fund Sign MOU on Green Infrastructure Course

NACWA and one of the nation’s leading environmental conservation groups, The Conservation Fund, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a new green infrastructure training course.  The course will be tailored to NACWA members and the public officials with whom they work and will examine how clean water agencies can efficiently and beneficially incorporate green infrastructure into every aspect of facilities and operations.  The course will also strive to educate public officials about the importance of green infrastructure and the potential benefits for municipal governments and the people they serve.  The MOU allows NACWA and The Conservation Fund to collaborate on the development of the new pilot course by assembling a national design team.  This team would include utility representatives from across the country who will help create an innovative curriculum focused on utilizing a green infrastructure approach throughout publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and their collection systems.  The team will also look for avenues for POTWs to incorporate strategic conservation, with special emphasis placed on water resource needs, into daily activities.  If you or a member of your agency would be interested in being part of this exciting design team, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Registration Now Available for 2008 CSO Workshop

Registration information for the 2008 NACWA/Wet Weather Partnership CSO Workshop, scheduled for April 17-18 in Chicago, is now available.  This marks the sixth year that NACWA and the Wet Weather Partnership have presented the Workshop, which is a one-of-a-kind meeting specifically designed to help Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) communities address their wet weather issues and provide important information on enforcement and compliance trends.   This year’s Workshop, Water Quality Compliance Strategies and Key Long-Term Control Plan Developments for CSO Communities, will address topics such as long-term control plan(LTCP) implementation, financial capability and affordability, trends in CSO-related consent decrees, national municipal stormwater developments, and how to incorporate green strategies into LTCPs.  Information on the Workshop and registration materials can be found here; any questions about the Workshop can be directed to Meghan Morel at mmorel@aqualaw.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  As in past years, we expect that the Workshop and hotel room block will sell out quickly, so hurry and register today!