NACWA Raises Concerns with New EPA Test Methods for Pharmaceuticals, Steroids

NACWA sent a letter (PDF) this week to EPA detailing concerns with two new test methods (Methods 1694 and 1698) for analyzing pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in water.  The methods performed poorly in the validation study EPA conducted.  Though not yet formally approved, NACWA is concerned that the methods will be interpreted as EPA ‘endorsed’ and may be used for regulatory purposes.  In fact, California is already pursuing the use of these methods for setting monitoring requirements in discharge permits issued by the state.  NACWA’s letter requests that EPA issue a statement acknowledging the existence of other methods that can be used to analyze for these constituents and outlining the limitations of the two methods.  In its letter, NACWA noted that the methods had poor performance in accurately quantifying certain analytes, and EPA failed to establish proper data quality objectives (DQOs) that would have defined acceptable performance before conducting the study.  NACWA also outlined several more specific concerns with the methods, including the complexity and cost associated with some elements that would limit which labs could actually conduct the tests.  Given the increasing focus being placed on the presence of these PPCPs in water, NACWA believes the clean water community needs robust, valid analytical methods that can be conducted at more than just a few of the most advance labs in the country and will work to ensure these methods are modified and/or subjected to more rigorous validation before being used in Clean Water Act programs.

NACWA Meets with EPA, Water Sector Associations on Climate Change

NACWA and other water sector associations met this week with representatives from EPA’s Office of Drinking Water and Groundwater and Office of Wastewater Management to discuss climate change initiatives being undertaken by each group.  NACWA described its Targeted Action Fund (TAF) projects relating to climate change, including work to provide data to EPA showing that methods used to calculate greenhouse gas inventory emissions from wastewater treatment need to be adjusted, and the development of a manual on carbon markets which will help clean water agencies take advantage of existing and emerging opportunities to buy and sell emission credits.  NACWA is also preparing draft legislation focusing on adaptation needs for wastewater utilities, which will be ready for inclusion in climate change legislation that may be introduced by Congress next year.

Other water sector groups, including the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), are pursuing research projects on climate change impacts on water resources and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as defining legislative priorities.  EPA is planning an expert’s workshop on water infrastructure sustainability and adaptation to climate change, which will be held in January 2009.  NACWA and the other associations also discussed with EPA how to coordinate research and other climate change initiatives that will provide the most benefit to the water sector.  The water sector organizations plan to meet periodically to facilitate this type of coordination and communicate climate change initiatives and needs.

NACWA, States, Activist Groups Work to Draft Green Infrastructure Legislation

NACWA met with representatives from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), American Rivers, the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA), and Clean Water Action Oct. 8 to begin drafting legislation that will promote green infrastructure as a means to address wet weather issues and other water quality challenges.  The bill is still in the planning stages, but would contain grants for research and for clean water agencies to implement green infrastructure projects and would create a green infrastructure office within EPA.  NACWA is assisting with drafting specific provisions of the bill.  Once the draft is complete, NACWA will work with the other groups to find a sponsor in the next Congress to introduce it and shepherd it through.  The Association believes the timing is good for pursuing green infrastructure legislation because, in addition to cost savings and environmental benefits, green approaches to addressing water quality are producing new “green” jobs that will help the economy.

NACWA Visits the Windy City for WEFTEC – Blow By To See Us!

NACWA will be well represented this year at WEFTEC’08 in Chicago, Ill. with two booths on the exhibit floor at McCormick Place, and its annual Hot Topics Breakfast on Oct. 21.  We invite you to stop by the NACWA booth (Booth # 35013) for a preview of the Association’s newly redesigned website and up-to-date news on the latest advocacy issues in the nation’s capital and in the courts.

Clean Water Advocacy Center to be a Presence on Critical Issues

NACWA has once again teamed up with the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the American Public Works Association (APWA) to host the Clean Water Advocacy Center (CWAC) at WEFTEC ’08.  This is the second year that the CWAC (Booth # 34003) will be communicating – with your help – the importance of clean water and infrastructure funding to the candidates running for president and the Congress.  This year the CWAC will feature photo opportunities with both presidential candidates (of the cardboard cut-out variety) to attract visitors and encourage support for clean water as a central priority of any new administration.  Come sign on to a letter asking our new President to make support for clean water a priority in his new administration, and get your photo taken with the candidate of your choice.

Ken Kirk to Speak on Panel about Financial Crisis, Opportunities in Congress

In addition, NACWA Executive Director Ken Kirk will speak on a panel from 8:30 a.m – noon, Monday, Oct. 20, where he will be joined by Ben Grumbles, EPA assistant administrator for water; Dick Lanyon, general superintendent of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago; and Sandi Allen, of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, to discuss “Fees, Finance, and the Future: Water is Life and Infrastructure Makes it Happen.”  Ken will provide the municipal perspective in context of the current economic crisis and discuss opportunities in the upcoming Congress.  Closing out the panel discussion will be Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

NACWA’s Hot Topic Breakfast Offers Exchange with EPA Officials

NACWA will hold its annual Hot Topics Breakfast on Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 8 – 10 a.m. in the Michigan A/B room at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers (the WEFTEC’08 headquarters hotel).  Guests will have the opportunity to engage key U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials on a broad slate of water quality-related topics.  Ephraim King, director of EPA’s Office of Science and Technology, and Craig Hooks, director of the Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, will be on hand along with other EPA representatives to discuss issues including nutrient control, effluent guidelines, the watershed approach and whole effluent toxicity, just to name a few.  There is no cost to attend NACWA’s Hot Topics Breakfast and registration is not required.  We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!

Grumbles, Nakayama, Amy Walter to Speak at NACWA’s 2008 Law Seminar

NACWA’s 2008 Developments in Clean Water Law Seminar Nov. 12-14 at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C., will feature top-notch speakers who will address the hottest topics in clean water law.  Leading off the Seminar as a special guest speaker will be Amy Walter, noted political commentator and editor of The Hotline, to provide an in-depth analysis of the presidential and congressional elections, including how the election outcome may affect environmental and municipal issues.  Top officials from the EPA will also speak, including Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator for water, who will address EPA efforts on climate change, and Granta Nakayama, assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance, who will talk about recent enforcement trends involving clean water utilities.

Other topics to be addressed at the Seminar include biosolids management, stormwater developments, nutrient regulations, and an overview of the most important Clean Water Act cases from the past year.  Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits will be available.  Registration and more information on the Seminar is now available.  Be sure to join your clean water colleagues for this educational conference!  The Oct. 21 hotel registration deadline is fast approaching, so hurry and make your reservations today!