Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - January 6, 2006
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for the FaxAlert ArchiveJanuary 6, 2006
NACWA, NRDC to Submit
Joint Comments to EPA on Peak Wet Weather Flow Policy
NACWA and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) are drafting joint comments to EPA on the Agency’s peak wet weather flow policy. The comment letter will be submitted by the January 23 deadline and will be supportive of the Agency’s proposed policy. NACWA encourages members to submit their utility-specific comments to EPA separately and requests that a copy of these comments be sent to NACWA’s General Counsel, Alexandra Dunn, at adunn@nacwa.org so that the National Office is aware of any issues, concerns or clarifications that members may have.Due to collaborative efforts between NACWA and NRDC, this issue has continued to receive significant media attention over the past 3 weeks. In a January 4, 2006 article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, Ben Grumbles, again expressed his admiration of the fact that these two groups came together on this critical issue, saying "I get enthusiastic when groups with widely different perspectives can work together and advance a policy that we think will add certainty and environmental protection. [The proposal] maximizes treatment. It's a triumph of treatment over dilution and collaboration over confrontation." To view a list of news articles on this issue, visit NACWA’s Advocacy webpage and click on the NACWA in the News link (http://www.nacwa.org/advocacy/05news.cfm). This substantive progress toward a peak wet weather policy demonstrates the Association’s commitment to its Strategic Plan and to maximizing opportunities for collaboration.
NACWA Seeks
Member Responses to Critical Public Relations Survey
NACWA, through its Communications & Public Relations (PR) Committee, has developed a survey designed to compile key information from utilities on their media relations practices. The results of this survey will serve as the basis for a media relations document which will provide data on the outreach capabilities of the clean water community, insight into the PR challenges utilities face in obtaining positive media attention and identify approaches to organizing an active base of ratepayers/community allies. Most significantly, however, the PR document will offer examples, and provide an analysis of, the commonalities of tried and proven methods and initiatives resulting in positive media, community and policy-maker support. NACWA requests the membership complete the online survey by January 20, 2006. The survey will soon be accessible through a link on NACWA’s web site (www.nacwa.org) or directly at CleanWater Central™ (www.cleanwatercentral.org). All member responses will be kept confidential. NACWA will be sending out a Member Update with more detailed information on the survey and CleanWater Central™ shortly. For more information, contact NACWA’s Manager of Communications and Public Affairs, John Thibodeau, at 202.296.9836 or jthibodeau@nacwa.org.NACWA Leaders Meet with Water Sector Association Officers
Members of NACWA’s Executive Committee and staff leadership met this week with peers from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) and the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) at a Water & Wastewater Officers Summit in Alexandria, Virginia. The Summit provided the opportunity to build relationships among the major drinking water and clean water associations, share current priorities, and identify issues for collaboration. Cross-cutting issues affecting both water and wastewater utilities were the focus of a wide-ranging discussion that included such topics as utility management, infrastructure funding, security, public education, watershed management and emerging issues in the wastewater/drinking water arena which we anticipate will be the topic of NACWA’s 2006 Summer Technical Conference in Seattle, Wash. The first-of-its- kind meeting was considered both valuable and informative – and future meetings are anticipated.Register Today for NACWA’s 2006 Winter Conference
It’s not too late to register for NACWA’s 2006 Winter Conference. The Association has lined up a fantastic program with several dynamic speakers and panels. Please refer to the January 5, 2006 Special Edition FaxAlert (http://www.nacwa.org/private/faxalerts/010506se.cfm) for updated hotel information and registration information.