Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - August 4, 2006
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for the FaxAlert ArchiveAugust 4, 2006
NACWA Provides Comments on EPA Water Transfer Proposal
NACWA submitted comments this week providing overall support for EPA’s proposal to codify its long-standing approach for addressing water transfers outside the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program, but also recommended ways to improve the proposal. The Association’s comments acknowledged the potential for adverse impacts as a result of water transfers and urged EPA to make clear in the final rule the need for monitoring to ensure water quality is not diminished as a result. Moreover, NACWA said the Agency must clarify that in situations where a water transfer causes a violation of water quality standards, the transfer itself must be controlled in a way that does not place an added burden on the other dischargers in the watershed. EPA must commit to a firm schedule for developing and issuing guidance on the processes to control pollution from flow diversions, NACWA said in its comments. NACWA will continue to work with EPA to ensure a workable program is in place for addressing water transfers. Comments will be posted at http://www.nacwa.org/advocacy/releases.cfm#cmt on Monday.NACWA, WERF Web Seminar
on Use Attainability Analyses Is a Success
The second part of the web seminar, Use Attainability Analyses (UAAs): Beyond the Basics, sponsored by NACWA and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), drew more than 75 log-ons and featured detailed analysis on when to pursue a UAA and possible legal strategies. Some communities may not be ready to go through the costly and time-consuming process of conducting a UAA, John Spencer, a Vice President for CH2MHill, said. Lori Terry, a Seattle attorney, discussed legal strategies for what can be an emotional and political controversy and said she urges her clients to recognize their ultimate objective before proceeding, anticipate and prepare for opposition, and identify a strong coalition of dischargers to assist in the effort.NACWA expects to host future web seminars on timely issues, and looks forward to board member participation. Tapes from the two-part UAA seminar will be available for a fee. For additional information, please contact Robin Davis, NACWA Director of Marketing and Print Management, at (202) 533 -1802 or at rdavis@nacwa.org.
NACWA Views on
Beach Closures Get Aired in Several News Stories
NACWA was quick to gets its views in the discussion this week as news stories came out regarding NRDC’s report, Testing the Waters (http://www.nrdc.org), on the rising number of beach closures. NACWA issued a press release (http://www.nacwa.org/advocacy/releases/080306.cfm), pointing out the need for more funding and the fact that better monitoring regimens are resulting in increased beach closures— an outcome that is protective of public health and safety. The press release referenced NACWA’s work with NRDC and other groups on the development of sound environmental policies, including the group’s joint effort on EPA’s peak excess flow guidance. The story of NRDC’s report and NACWA’s response ran in several news articles.NRDC’s report correctly points out the difficulty of pinpointing the sources of contamination, which include stormwater and agriculture, a fact NACWA has long emphasized. The article from the Environmental News Service (http://www.nacwa.org/advocacy/news.cfm), in particular, emphasized the fact that NACWA continues to work with NRDC and others to ensure our nation’s waters are safe for swimming and to press Congress for more funding for critical clean water infrastructure.