» Clean Water Current Archive

September 6, 2013

NACWA Tells House Ways & Means Committee to Continue Tax-Exempt Municipal Bonds

The Association met with staff on the House Ways & Means Committee this week to brief them on the recent report  NACWA and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) released detailing the impacts that altering the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds would have on the water sector. Representative Dave Camp (R-MI), Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee, is planning to introduce a tax reform package by the end of the year, and the tax treatment of municipal bonds is a central issue at play. In the meeting, NACWA stressed that implementing a 28-percent benefit cap on municipal bonds, as included in the Obama Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2014 budget request, would increase financing costs to water and wastewater utilities by $6 billion. In other words, it is likely that there would be decrease of $6 billion in capital water and wastewater infrastructure project investment. Given the enormous infrastructure needs facing the water sector, NACWA made it clear to Committee staff that it is of paramount importance that Congress maintain the tax-exempt status of the water sector’s primary source of financing, especially given the budget cuts likely to occur to the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. NACWA will continue to engage Congress on this issue and provide updates on the House tax reform package as they occur.

NACWA to Comment on Proposed Water Quality Standards Rule Revisions

NACWA’s Water Quality Committee is reviewing a proposed rule  released this week outlining a number of potential revisions to EPA’s water quality standards regulations. These regulations directly impact states and how they establish and implement their water quality standards programs, but many of the proposed changes could have an impact on NACWA members. The proposed rule contained few if any surprises, with EPA addressing the six issues that were anticipated: 1) what constitutes an administrator’s determination that new or revised standards are necessary; 2) designated uses – including clarifying that states must adopt the highest attainable use; 3) clarification that states must re-examine their water quality criteria during each triennial review to determine if any revisions are necessary in light of new EPA recommended criteria; 4) several revisions regarding antidegradation implementation; 5) new regulatory language recognizing variances as an important tool and outlining some basic parameters for their use; and, 6) new provisions on the use of permit-based compliance schedules.

Some of these regulatory changes are already being implemented as EPA policy, so their impact in particular states may vary. The antidegradation provisions may be particularly problematic and NACWA will be focusing additional attention on this section of the rule. EPA hopes the new provisions will ensure more consistent implementation of antidegradation provisions nationwide, but new provisions for Agency approval of state implementation procedures could reduce existing flexibility. For variances, while EPA’s acknowledgement of their underutilization is a positive development, the added specificity and requirements in the regulations could lead to a decrease in flexibility. EPA is accepting comments on the proposal until December 3. The Agency plans to hold two webinars and one public meeting during the comment period. Please send any comments to Chris Hornback at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

EPA Hosts Webinar on e-Reporting Rule for NACWA Members

NACWA and EPA, along with the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the National Rural Water Association (NRWA), convened a webinar on Wednesday to discuss the proposed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) e-Reporting rule for the clean water community.

Staff from EPA’s Office of Enforcement & Compliance Assurance (OECA) reviewed the proposed structure of the July 30 rule, which requires electronic reporting under the NPDES permit program. Members were given an opportunity to ask questions about elements of the rule, data quality control, implementation, and the economic analysis considered in rule development. A recording of the webinar and a copy of the slides can be found on the NACWA website. Please submit any comments on the proposed rule to Brenna Mannion at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by September 20.

Law Seminar to Address Integrated Planning, Consent Decree Issues

Registration is underway for NACWA’s 2013 National Clean Water Law Seminar, scheduled for Nov. 20 - 22 in San Antonio, Texas. A preliminary narrative agenda is now available. NACWA’s Law Seminar is the only conference of its kind to focus exclusively on legal and regulatory issues impacting municipal clean water attorneys and managers, with a focus on cutting-edge legal developments and challenges. This year’s program promises to be both informative and educational, addressing some of the hottest current topics in clean water law.

Central to the Seminar will be a discussion on the status of EPA’s integrated planning effort, including a look at how some agencies have successfully incorporated integrated planning in enforcement actions and how utilities can effectively utilize the approach in the permitting context. Federal, state, and municipal speakers will all participate on this panel and provide valuable insights and perspectives. Recent developments involving municipal wet weather consent decrees will be another key focus of the Seminar, including a review of decrees entered over the past year and what lessons they may hold for utilities currently in the decree negotiation process. Additional topics to be covered include legal developments in the stormwater arena; wet weather permitting and enforcement issues; a review of the most important Clean Water Act cases of the past year; and, a discussion with former top EPA officials on the most effective ways to conduct legal advocacy with the Agency. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits, including legal ethics credits, will be available.

Additional details on the Seminar, including registration and hotel information, access to the preliminary agenda, and CLE information are available on NACWA’s website. Register now and be sure you join your clean water colleagues in San Antonio for this valuable conference!

Applications Available for NACWA Environmental Achievement Awards

NACWA is currently accepting nominations for its National Environmental Achievement Awards (NEAA) for individuals and agencies. Member Agencies are invited to take this opportunity to recognize federal, state, or local leaders that have made a significant impact on their agency, environment and/or the local community. Agencies are also encouraged to submit applications that showcase the innovative projects and initiatives in which they are engaged.

Information on the NEAA program was forwarded to members via Member Update 13-13 on September 4. Applications are due Friday, October 18, 2013. Nomination forms and guidelines can be found on the NACWA website. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Director, Membership Development, for additional information.

Enrollment Open Water & Wastewater Leadership Center

Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Water & Wastewater Leadership Center executive education program, March 9 - 21, 2014, at the Kenan-Flagler Business School on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The deadline for applications is Friday, October 25, 2013. Interested individuals are strongly encouraged to apply early, as space in the program is limited. The Leadership Center is specifically designed to prepare current and up-and-coming public and private water and wastewater utility leaders to effectively and efficiently manage their utilities. The Center is a joint venture of NACWA, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and is offered in collaboration with the American Public Works Association (APWA) and the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC).

No other program cultivates water sector leadership and management skills like this intensive 11-day executive management learning experience. Students are challenged to broaden their perspective on evolving issues facing utilities and the changing business environment, while key course elements provide instruction on how to think strategically and lead confidently. The targeted curriculum is enhanced by state-of-the-art facilities, as well as engaging and dynamic instructors. Brochures and applications will soon be sent to all members. You may download the application and brochure now by visiting the Conferences & Professional Development section of NACWA’s website. Contact Kelly Brocato at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions.

Healthy Waters Update Available

NACWA forwarded the August Healthy Waters Update  this week to members of the Healthy Waters Coalition, a diverse group of municipal and state water and wastewater organizations, as well as conservation and sustainable agriculture groups. The Coalition is focused on strengthening links between working agricultural lands and the quality of our Nation’s waters – with specific emphasis on agricultural nutrient run-off. The Update provides an overview of press coverage on key studies and research, and significant federal/state/local activities related to nutrient issues. A full archive of past monthly Healthy Waters Updates, can be found here. NACWA members interested in receiving the updates are invited to email the Healthy Waters Coalition at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

NACWA Blog of the Week:
In the Dyeing World of Wipes – Vancouver Puts Their Hands on Them

Have you subscribed to NACWA’s blog, The Water Voice? This week’s post comes from Frank Dick, Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator for the City of Vancouver, Wash. Frank has been spending considerable time tackling the City’s non-dispersables issue and gathering the data to have meaningful conversations with the businesses that produce them. What kind of information was gathered to impact dispersability protocols? We invite you to read on at The Water Voice.

With a new posting each Wednesday, The Water Voice is the perfect way receive overviews and opinions on issues of importance to the clean water community. Subscribe today!