Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - January 23, 2004
Click Here
to see previous Fax Alerts
January 23, 2004
AMSA Urges Members to
Submit Pro-Blending Policy Comment Letter
As the deadline to submit comments on EPA’s blending guidance draws near (Feb. 9), AMSA is pleased to offer a new and effective means by which members may provide comments directly to the Agency’s comment docket at the click of a button. Simply insert your name and agency information and hit “send”. This will help ensure that EPA receives the largest possible number of pro-blending comments. Members who wish to submit comments at a “click of a button” should go to http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/temp/epa_comment.cfm. If your agency would like to submit more detailed comments, feel free to use AMSA’s substantive comments, which are available in Microsoft Word so that you can “cut and paste” in whole or in part (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/outreach/2003-01-09BlendingComments.doc). If AMSA members do not show their support for the guidance it may not be finalized, which could allow states and EPA Regions to prohibit the practice, at a cost of nearly $200 billion nationwide. Please see AMSA’s Jan. 21 Special Edition FaxAlert at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/faxalerts/012104se.cfm.AMSA continues its effort to educate members of Congress and their staff on the importance of blending. This week AMSA met with key congressional staff from nearly ten offices seeking their support for the blending guidance. In the past two weeks, AMSA has met with over 25 offices on Capitol Hill to discuss this critical issue. The Association will continue to advocate on Capitol Hill and in the media in support of finalizing the proposed blending guidance.
AMSA Seeks Member Input on Wastewater Security Legislation
This past year saw the introduction of two wastewater security bills, H.R. 866 and S. 1039, in the House and Senate respectively. Both would authorize over $200 million for publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) to conduct voluntary vulnerability assessments and pay for enhanced security at their facilities. The House bill was successfully passed by a 413-2 vote. The Senate bill was held up by the Environment and Public Works Committee’s minority members, who will not move the legislation without an amendment requiring POTWs to perform and submit vulnerability assessments. AMSA needs to hear from its members as to whether a requirement to perform and submit vulnerability assessments to the federal government is a “deal-breaker”. It is imperative that your agency respond by January 27 as AMSA’s Legislative Policy Committee will take up this important topic at its February 4 meeting at AMSA’s Winter Conference [see bullet below]. Please see AMSA’s January 22 Special Edition FaxAlert (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/faxalerts/012204se.cfm) for further information and contact AMSA’s Lee Garrigan at lgarrigan@amsa-cleanwater.org or 202/833-4655 with your response.Congress Passes Long-Awaited Appropriations Package
The Senate this week approved the Fiscal Year 2004 omnibus appropriations package - an $820 billion bill that will fund the majority of the nation’s federal agencies, including EPA. The bill contains $1.35 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund despite the Administration’s attempt to reduce that overall number. Also included in the omnibus package is $1 million for the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP), ensuring another year of funding for the NBP program. Earmarked funding for water and wastewater projects also witnessed large increases signaling a growing understanding in Congress of the importance of focusing on narrowing the increasing infrastructure funding gap that faces the nation.
- AMSA 2004 Winter Conference, From Crisis to Opportunity…Strengthening Your Utility’s Assets, February 3-6 in Los Angeles, California, is rapidly approaching. There is still time to register, so visit http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/04winter/ for more information.