Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - January 18, 2002
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January 18, 2002
AMSA Addresses EPA Branch Chiefs on Security Initiatives
Yesterday AMSA briefed a gathering of EPA NPDES Regional Branch Chiefs on the key role it is playing in post-Sept. 11th security initiatives, outlining the important tools the AMSA is developing in cooperation with EPA to help the wastewater community assess their vulnerabilities. These include an Asset-Based Vulnerability Checklist, and a comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment Software Tool, which will help utility leaders address the risks associated with the main categories of business assets - people (utility staff), physical plant, knowledge base, information technology, and customers. Sue Gilbertson, Associate Director of EPA's Water Protection Task Force, singled out AMSA at the meeting for its role in the wastewater security arena. The first fruits of AMSA's security efforts, the Legal Issues in a Time of Crisis and the Vulnerability Checklists, will be sent to members next week. AMSA also will preview the Software Tool at its Winter Conference, Managing and Protecting Wastewater Infrastructure Assets, in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 5-8. Advanced registration for this conference is due by Tuesday, Jan. 22 so register now!
AMSA Voices POTW Concerns over EPA Reporting Proposal
"To err is human . . ." the Shakespeare quote goes, and EPA has now "CROMERRR-ed" in a manner that many municipal and industry organizations find unacceptable. On Aug. 31, 2001 EPA proposed the CROMERRR (Cross-Media Electronic Reporting and Records Rule) rule that is attracting enormous criticism, including AMSA's. To obtain stakeholder feedback, EPA held a public meeting this week at which AMSA explained that publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), like industry, would be hit hard by this rule. AMSA explained that all information obtained electronically from industrial users under their approved pretreatment programs would be subject to additional requirements, potentially requiring drastic changes to existing information management systems. Consensus was reached that EPA's definition of "electronic record" was so broad as to reach virtually any information handled by a computer system. AMSA also expressed support for issuing the recordkeeping provisions as a separate rule. EPA acknowledged that the rule was not meant to be so expansive, and agreed changes would be necessary. Comments on the rule are due February 27.
WIN Begins Advocacy Push for Congress’ Return to the Capitol
The Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) is preparing a major push on behalf of federal funding for urgently needed water infrastructure upgrades and repair. WIN sent a strong letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this week asking for $57 billion over the next five years, which would still leave the federal share of drinking water and wastewater funding below 20 percent of total spending. The letter also adds that legislation must include a significant grant component." The letter is available at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/outreach/1-15-02letter.pdf. WIN has also placed a hard-hitting ½ page ad in the Jan. 21 "Welcome Back Congress" edition of Roll Call, calling on Congress to act now on water infrastructure funding. AMSA will forward the ad to members next week for use in their newsletters and local papers.
- AMSA urges members to register now for AMSA's four regional Managing Public Infrastructure Assets workshops, the first of which will be held Feb. 28 - March 1, 2002 at the Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, Calif.. Space is limited to only 100 participants per workshop. Registration information for all the workshops is available at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/02regwork.