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January 28, 2000
AMSA Wins Wet Weather Bill Introduction
This week AMSA has learned that Reps. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) and William J. Pascrell (D-N.J.) are preparing to introduce the Urban Wet Weather Priorities Act of 2000. Both lawmakers are members of the House Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee and are seeking bipartisan cosponsors for the bill. With a legislative session compressed by election-year pressures, the early introduction of the bill is extremely advantageous for AMSA members. Along with spurring needed reform in the regulation of urban wet weather flows, the introduction of the bill will also further inform Congress of the need for more comprehensive Clean Water Act reauthorization and stepped-up clean water infrastructure funding.Although an introduction date has not been finalized, the Congressmen's staff indicate that the plan is to formally introduce the bill during the week of January 31, 2000. The National Office has sought from the outset to attract bipartisan cosponsors. The decision by Congressmen LaTourette and Pascrell to sign on to the bill marks a significant step forward in moving AMSA's legislative agenda on the Hill, and will help attract bipartisan support.
The bill, developed by a coalition of municipal organizations including AMSA, the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Association of Flood & Stormwater Management Agencies, American Public Works Association, and Water Environment Federation, would make important changes in the Clean Water Act's oversight of combined sewer overflows (CSOs), sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and urban stormwater runoff and would establish a dedicated wet weather grants program.
Each AMSA member has been urged to write to their Congressional delegation to inform them of the bill and encourage them to sign on as a cosponsor. The National Office distributed Legislative Alert 99-16 containing a sample letter, a summary of the bill, and instructions on how to prepare and send the letter. As EPA prepares to release new enforcement guidance focusing on CSOs and SSOs, the need for the bill becomes more apparent. EPA is moving forward with the stringent guidance despite the widespread inconsistencies in wet weather requirements and the lack of any national program for overflows from separate sanitary sewers. In addition, the Agency continues to include numeric limits in stormwater permits despite clarification from the Federal courts indicating that Congress intended EPA to regulate municipal permits using the standard of “maximum extent practicable.”
Next Week, the National Office staff will be in Albuquerque, N.M. for the 2000 Winter Conference, but staff will be available in Washington, and others will check voice mail regularly.