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March 30, 2001

Water Hearings Feature AMSA and WIN
Water infrastructure funding was a hot topic for lawmakers this week as the Senate and House kicked-off Congressional debate on one of AMSA's top issues. Pat Karney, Director of the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, testified on behalf of AMSA before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources (Subcommittee). Gloucester, Massachusetts Mayor Bruce Tobey presented the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) position twice this week, both before the Subcommittee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Water. In her testimony, EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman cited studies by both AMSA and WIN and told lawmakers she planned to peer-review EPA's own analysis of the funding shortfall before its release this summer. Senators and Representatives on both sides of the aisle called for increased spending to safeguard the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure system. Additional hearings are expected through the summer. AMSA's testimony and press release can be found in the Clean Water Advocacy Section at www.amsa-cleanwater.org/advocacy/advocacy.cfm.

AMSA Urges SRF Increase to Trigger Wet Weather Grants
AMSA urged the House Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies today to increase the President's proposal for State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans in FY 2002 to trigger the AMSA-supported Wet Weather Water Quality Act of 2000 (Act) grant program. Under the President's budget proposal, SRF loans to the states would be funded at $1.3 billion. AMSA's letter explains that the 2-year, $1.5 billion grant program for sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) and combined sewer overflow (CSO) projects created in the Act is conditioned on SRF funding of $1.35 billion. AMSA's letter highlights that wet weather grants are an important first step toward revitalizing and rebuilding our nation's aging water infrastructure and gave the Committee the WINow report. AMSA's letter can be found in the Member Pipeline under Correspondence and Outreach at www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/outreach/outreach.cfm.

AMSA Supports Mercury Reduction Bill
This week AMSA expressed its support for Senator Susan Collins' (R-ME) bill, the Mercury Reduction and Disposal Act of 2001 (S. 351). The bill would limit the use of mercury fever thermometers and improve collection, recycling, and disposal of mercury. It also establishes an Interagency Task Force on Mercury. AMSA's letter highlights our August 2000 Domestic Sources of Mercury report and encourages expansion of the bill to include a national mercury reduction strategy and POTW involvement. AMSA's letter can be found in the Member Pipeline under Correspondence and Outreach at www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/outreach/outreach.cfm.

> Hotel deadline for the Creating High Performance Business Services Workshop is Friday, April 6! The Workshop will be held April 30 - May 1 at the Westin Tabor Center in Denver, Colo. Call the Westin Tabor Center today to reserve your hotel accommodations for this important competitiveness workshop - 800/228-3000. Workshop information and online registration is available on AMSA's web site, www.amsa-cleanwater.org.