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March 7, 2014 Rep. Bob Latta Confirmed to Speak at National Water Policy ForumWater Week 2014 is almost here! We are pleased to announce that Representative Bob Latta (R-OH) has confirmed plans to speak at the National Policy Forum & Fly-In on the morning of April 8. Rep. Latta recently introduced The Clean Water Affordability Act, a bill to give clean water agencies facing financial challenges the flexibility they need to undertake clean water projects in a way that minimizes financial impacts on ratepayers and municipal budgets. Mr. Latta has been a long-time champion on clean water affordability issues and is a 2014 recipient of NACWA’s National Environmental Achievement Award for federal public service. We are excited he will be able to join us. Make your plans now and register for the Policy Forum & Fly-In at the low rate of $250. We have secured a rate of $299 per night (single/double), plus applicable taxes, at the Capital Hilton for the duration of the Policy Forum (April 7 – 9). Reservations must be made by Monday, March 17, 2014 to receive the special rate. To ensure a hotel room, contact the Capital Hilton at 202.393.1000. Be sure to identify yourself as a Water Policy Forum attendee. We look forward to seeing you in Washington in April. NACWA Meets with NRCS to Discuss Farm Bill ImplementationNACWA met with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) this week to discuss the newly-established Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and its schedule for implementation. The RCPP, which is a key conservation program in the Farm Bill’s Conservation Title, would allow for entities such as clean water and drinking water utilities to enter into partnership agreements with farmers to reduce nutrient runoff and improve water quality. This short write up WSCC Focuses on Cybersecurity in Meeting with EPA, DHSThe Water Sector Coordinating Council (WSCC) conducted a two-day meeting this week to discuss security and emergency preparedness for wastewater and drinking water utilities. For the second day of the meeting, the WSCC was joined by the Government Coordinating Council (GCC), which includes representatives from EPA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Patty Cleveland, Assistant Regional Manager with the Trinity River Authority, Texas, and Vice Chair of the WSCC, represented NACWA at the meeting. Cybersecurity was the main topic of the meeting, and the WSCC was updated by DHS on the recent work related to last year’s Executive Order (EO) 13636: Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity and Presidential Policy Directive (PPD)-21: Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience. The overall security framework for infrastructure, the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), was updated last year as part of the EO and PPD-21. The Cybersecurity Framework was recently released as directed in the EO and PPD-21 and provides a national guideline to improving cybersecurity of critical infrastructure. DHS recently announced the creation of the Critical Infrastructure Cyber Community (C3) Voluntary Program, a public-private partnership that will provide critical infrastructure owners and operators with existing resources to help manage cyber risks. The WSCC was also briefed about the current scope of cybersecurity threats. The WSCC and EPA discussed and supported the creation of a joint workgroup to promote outreach and training that will raise awareness of cyber risks and encourage voluntary use of the Cybersecurity Framework in the water sector. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) Cybersecurity Guide, Process Control System Security Guidance for the Water Sector Administration’s FY 2015 Budget Slashes Funding; Scales Back Muni Bond ExemptionThe Obama Administration released its FY 2015 Budget request on Tuesday which proposes $581 million in cuts to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs (CWSRF and DWSRF, respectively). The budget proposes funding the CWSRF and DWSRF at $1.018 billion and $757 million respectively, a $431 million and $150 million decrease from the amount Congress appropriated for FY 2014. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) overall budget request was cut by $300 million to $7.9 billion compared to FY 2014 levels. Click here for a chart that compares proposed discretionary spending levels for EPA's water programs from FY 2012 through the current FY 2015 budget proposal. Please note that the Advocacy Alert sent earlier this week contained some incorrect figures based on an initial budget overview but these have been updated online after a more thorough review of the budget. This year’s budget request again includes a proposal to limit the amount of tax liability wealthy individuals can claim on interest income received from investments in municipal bonds to 28%. The Administration is also proposing to lift the volume cap for private activity bond investments in water infrastructure projects. NACWA will continue making the case to Congress that maintaining a strong commitment to clean water investments in the FY 2015 budget is critical. Updates will be provided as they become available. Bureau of Reclamation’s FY 2015 Budget Proposal Focuses on Resilience, ReuseNACWA participated in a briefing this week on the Bureau of Reclamation’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Budget that was proposed as part of the Administration’s request (see related story). Overall, the request proposes funding the Bureau at $989 million, a decrease of $62 million from FY 2014 enacted levels. Specifically, the FY 2015 budget proposes $52.1 million for the Bureau’s WaterSMART Program, aimed at supporting sustainable strategies to meet our Nation’s water needs including water reuse and recycling projects, and increased funds for resilience in the face of changing climate conditions. Within the WaterSMART program, the budget allocates $21.5 million for the Title XVI Water Reclamation & Reuse Program, $1.5 million for a new Drought Response Program and $1.5 million for a new Resilient Infrastructure Program. NACWA is increasingly engaged in the Bureau’s activities – including projects related to infrastructure resilience and water reuse and recycling – both of which are key components of the Water Resources Utility of the Future framework. The Association will continue to monitor the Bureau’s appropriations processes and opportunities for members to use these resources. Registration Open for Consent Decree Workshop
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provides an overview of the RCPP and its importance to the NACWA membership. In the meeting, NRCS appeared very interested in working with the clean water sector to help make the RCPP a success. While NRCS is in the very early stages of implementing the program, staff indicated that they would solicit applications through an RFP process that will likely be released later this spring. Staff also indicated that USDA will likely designate Critical Conservation Areas soon, prior to the release of the RFP. It is anticipated that a USDA representative will also participate in April’s Water Week 2014 National Water Policy Forum & Fly-In roundtable discussions with federal agency staff on the morning of April 9. NACWA will continue to ramp up its work with NRCS and, as more information becomes available, will update members.