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December 1, 2000

AMSA Members Encouraged to Provide TMDL Cost Information
This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Wetlands, Oceans & Watersheds Director Robert Wayland signed a notice requesting comments on costs to states, the regulatory community and small businesses from EPA’s total maximum daily load (TMDL) program. The notice is expected to appear in the Federal Register next week, after which interested parties will have 30 days to comment. The National Office urges member agencies to take full advantage of this opportunity to present ideal cost-effective approaches to meeting water quality goals and/or potential scenarios which might result in large expenditures with little or no water quality improvement in return. Regulatory Alert 00-23 is posted on AMSA’s web site, www.amsa-cleanwater.org, and contains further details.

Biosolids Incinerators Exempted from Clean Air Act Section 129
Today, EPA published a final air quality rule – "Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units" – which follows AMSA recommendations to exempt biosolids incinerators from section 129 of the Clean Air Act. The exemption is the direct result of AMSA members extensive efforts to provide data and technical information to the Agency that clearly indicated that further regulation was unnecessary. Sewage sludge incinerators will continue to be regulated under the current 40CFR part 60 regulations for particulate matter and opacity. The rule is posted online at www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2000/December/Day-01/a29875.cfm.

DOJ Files Brief Refuting Pronsolino Appeal
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued powerful arguments this week against agriculture and forestry interests efforts to overturn Pronsolino v. EPA, a precedent-setting decision that clearly reinforced Congress’ intention for total maximum daily load (TMDL) provisions in the Clean Water Act to apply to all water quality impairments regardless of source. DOJ forcefully refutes the opposing brief. DOJ’s brief is posted in the "Litigation Tracking" section of AMSA’s web site, http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/litigation/litigation.cfm. Next week, AMSA will file its brief, which will reinforce DOJ’s arguments by representing POTWs’ points of view.

Register Today for AMSA’s 2001 Winter Conference
Spanning topics from federal water infrastructure funding, to utility leadership, to environmental management systems, AMSA’s 2001 Winter Conference – Managing Utility Infrastructure – will present a complete picture of the themes, trends and issues that will impact public utilities in the 21^st century. The conference will take place in San Diego, Jan. 30 - Feb. 2, 2001, and a strong cast of speakers and an engaging array of panel presentations promise to make next year’s winter conference the best ever. Complete agenda and registration details are available on AMSA’s web site, www.amsa-cleanwater.org. To make your hotel reservations, contact the U.S. Grant Hotel, 800/334-6957, by Tuesday, January 9, 2001. To receive the special group rate, indicate that you are attending AMSA’s Winter Conference. Register now, before the holiday rush.

> AMSA Mixing Zone Mini-Surveys Due December 4 . . . On November 14, AMSA issued Regulatory Alert 00-21, which contained a Mini-Survey requesting information on AMSA members’ use of mixing zones. The survey will assist AMSA in assessing the overall impact of a strict national mixing zone regulation. Responses can be faxed to Greg Schaner at 202/833-4657 or emailed at gschaner@amsa-cleanwater.org. Please call Greg Schaner at 202/296-9836 if you have any questions in completing the survey.