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March 17, 2000
AMSA Urges EPA to Table Premature SSO Enforcement Strategy
This week, AMSA urged U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Carol Browner to halt EPA's municipal enforcement effort targeting SSOs until national SSO regulations are proposed and finalized. In a letter to Browner, AMSA said that “until the nation's POTWs are operating under consistent SSO regulations, the standard for managing such discharges will be in a state of flux.” “Holding municipalities responsible for regulations that can only be described as a moving target seems premature,” the letter said. AMSA also raises concerns that by beginning a new SSO enforcement program now, EPA may not be seriously committed to the new regulations. AMSA stresses that any enforcement action should be consistent with the final regulations and track with the same compliance standards and timetables contained in the rule.Although EPA enforcement officials expected that the guidance would be released in early March, it has not yet materialized. The guidance is expected to outline for EPA Regions how SSO cities should be inventoried and prioritized for enforcement action. Based on OECA's planning documents, the Agency is calling for 20 percent of high priority SSO cities to be addressed per year. Regions will be expected to develop an action plan to meet these planning goals. AMSA is formally requesting a copy of the enforcement guidance, which would then be distributed via Regulatory Alert.
Key Lawmakers Request Further Biosolids Partnership Funding
This week, the Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) and Ranking Minority Member Rep. Robert Borski (D-Penn.) of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment recommended further funding for the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP). In their letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies, Boehlert and Borski noted their support for a “$1.3 million grant in EPA's Fiscal Year 2001 budget for phase III of the partnership's efforts to complete pilot testing of its Environmental Management System in 1000 communities around the country.” The National Office thanks AMSA members who contacted Members of Congress and urged further federal financial support for the NBP.AMSA Progresses on Infrastructure Funding Initiative . . .
The National Office is pleased to report significant headway in its efforts to advance the national dialogue on increasing the federal role in water and wastewater infrastructure financing, and Congress is expressing strong interest in taking up the cause. The National Office received an excellent response to AMSA President Kumar Kishinchand's request for pledges to support the Association's federal funding efforts. However, to lay the groundwork for the long-term success of this important effort, it is imperative that AMSA receive as many pledges as possible. Members are encouraged to fill out and return the pledge form to the National Office, or to contact Lee Garrigan at 202/833-4605, or lgarrigan@amsa-cleanwater.org for more details.