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June 26, 1998
Clean Water Action Plan Fully Funded by House Appropriators
On June 25, the House Appropriations Committee fully funded the Clinton Administration’s Clean Water Action Plan at the President’s requested level, providing a $145 million increase over fiscal year 1998. The total appropriation for EPA in 1999 recommended by the House is $7.422 billion, $59 million more than fiscal year 1998 and $367 million below the President’s request. Superfund received $1.5 billion. The House increased funding in 1999 for loan programs that finance the construction of wastewater treatment plants, providing the Clean Water State Revolving Fund $175 million over the President’s request, bringing fiscal year 1999 funding to $1.250 billion. The full committee also maintained the $1 million appropriation for the National Biosolids Partnership. AMSA members will be kept informed of EPA appropriations issues as the House and Senate bills are reconciled for a final vote.
EPA Releases ANPRM
On June 25, EPA released its long-anticipated Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). The ANPRM outlines current regulatory provisions, accompanying guidance and policy, and current practices in the core areas of water quality standards programs — designated uses, criteria, antidegredation, and general policies. According to EPA, the ANPRM identifies issues that have arisen from the collective experiences of the EPA, states, tribes, cities, industry, and environmental advocates. The issue discussions include statements of current EPA thinking, followed by specific questions intended to focus public comments. The ANPRM will provide the basis for a structured national discourse on the future of many aspects of the water quality standards program and will be a featured topic for discussion at AMSA’s upcoming Summer Conference in Colorado Springs, Colo. on June 14-17. AMSA members will receive a copy of the ANPRM early next week.
EPA Seeking Proposals for Project XL
On June 23, EPA published a Federal Register notice (forwarded to members via Regulatory Alert 98-11) requesting proposals from POTWs interested in implementing alternative local pretreatment programs under its Project XL program. Project XL, which stands for "eXcellence and Leadership," is a national pilot program that provides a unique opportunity to test innovative ways of achieving better and more cost-effective public health and environmental protection. The intent of this RFP is to allow POTWs that have demonstrated a strong compliance record and an ability to measure environmental performance to investigate alternative ways of implementing local pretreatment programs that will produce superior environmental performance. AMSA has been actively promoting pretreatment streamlining/reinvention activities over the past several years and is participating in three cooperative agreements with EPA. Interested agencies should contact Sam Hadeed in the National Office (202/833-4655) and must submit a preliminary proposal to EPA by September 21, 1998.
AMSA RMP Workshop a Success
More than 100 attendees participated in AMSA’s Risk Management Plan (RMP) Implementation Workshop held this week in Milwaukee, Wis. The workshop showcased the interim final draft of the model RMP guidance document. Featured speakers, including EPA’s RMP Guidance Coordinator James Belke, discussed federal requirements and guidance to comply with the June 21, 1999 deadline. Topics included hazard assessment, POTW approaches to RMP and OSHA implementation, electronic data submission requirements, how POTWs can conduct an RMP self-analysis audit, and making the model RMP plan work at your POTW. The final guidance document is expected by early fall.
ØDue to the Independence Day holiday, there will not be a FaxAlert on Friday, July 3, 1998.