Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - April 4, 2003
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April 4, 2003
Security Funding Legislation Makes Headway in Senate
With the House expected to hold a full floor vote in the coming weeks on the Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act of 2003 (H.R. 866), activity on security legislation in the Senate has intensified as well. Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman of the Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee is poised to offer a bill nearly identical to H.R. 866 — a move AMSA strongly supports and has been urging with EPW staff consistently. Clearly, however, there is some disagreement between the majority and minority camps on EPW regarding the direction such legislation should take. Senator James Jeffords (I-VT) reintroduced wastewater security legislation this week which, unlike H.R. 866 and Senator Inhofe’s draft bill, would require mandatory filing of vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans with EPA, a requirement AMSA has ardently opposed. Jeffords’ bill would authorize $180 million for fiscal years 2004 through 2008 to perform vulnerability assessments and make basic security enhancements, $15 million for research and development, and $500,000 to refine existing vulnerability self-assessment tools. AMSA has identified key Republican Senators and is working with Association members in their states to secure their support. Markup is set for April 9 in the EPW Committee.House Introduces Wastewater Infrastructure Funding Bill
Thanks in large part to the efforts of AMSA and the Water Infrastructure Network, the issue of wastewater infrastructure funding continues to be a priority for the 108th Congress as demonstrated this week by the introduction of H.R. 1560, the Water Quality Financing Act of 2003 by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-AK) and Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee John Duncan (R-TN). H.R. 1560 authorizes $20 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) over the next five years. The bill also provides $1 billion in sewer overflow control grants for FY 2005-2008. AMSA is currently reviewing H.R. 1560 and will provide members with more information via upcoming Alerts and Updates. AMSA will continue to meet with key congressional staff on wastewater infrastructure legislation and urge modification where necessary while continuing to deliver the message that a long-term funding solution for core wastewater infrastructure needs is AMSA’s priority. H.R. 1560 is at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/faxalerts/040403a.pdf.AMSA to Review, Comment on EPA Response to Biosolids Report
EPA this week finalized a notice outlining plans to respond to the recommendations in the National Research Council’s (NRC) July 2002 report, Biosolids Applied to Land: Advancing Standards and Practices. In the notice, EPA identifies three main objectives to better understand and reduce any lingering uncertainty related to human health impacts from the land-application process including updating the scientific basis of the biosolids program through priority research projects; strengthening the biosolids program by evaluating results of completed, ongoing, or planned studies both within and outside EPA; and enhancing the Agency’s outreach capacity. The notice has been forwarded to AMSA’s Biosolids Committee for review and comment. Once the notice is published in the Federal Register, there will be 90 days to comment on it. AMSA will provide comments to EPA at that time. The notice is available at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/faxalerts/040403b.pdf.AMSA Environmental Forum Agenda, Registration Materials Are Online
AMSA’s 2003 National Environmental Policy Forum & 33rd Annual Meeting, Making Our Voices Heard . . . Mobilizing in Support of the National Clean Water Agenda, May 17-21, 2003, in Washington, DC, provides a unique opportunity to interact with Agency and congressional officials and garner momentum for national clean water policy. The hotel cut-off is April 22 so call the Hyatt Regency Washington, at 202/737-1234, to ensure the special room rate of $219 single/double. Agenda and registration information is available online at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/03nepf/.