Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - April 15, 2005
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April 15, 2005
AMSA Plays Significant Role in Capitol Hill Hearing on Blending
Working closely with AMSA, the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing this week providing members of Congress with a wide range of views on blending. In the months leading up to the hearing, the Association was instrumental in highlighting to Congress the challenges municipalities are facing in this area. AMSA’s efforts in advance of the hearing led to Subcommittee Chairman, John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), stating he had received letters supporting the practice of blending from municipal agencies or associations in 37 states. This broad municipal support for blending was echoed in testimony before the Subcommittee.Alan Vicory, Jr., Executive Director & Chief Engineer of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, Cincinnati, Ohio, testified that, from a state perspective, “[i]t would be extremely difficult – if not impossible – to effectively manage the wide variety of peak wet weather events in communities along the Ohio River if blending were not an available option.” John H. Graham, Jr., Assistant Director, Water Quality Control Department, City of Maryville, Tenn., stated that his “plant is designed to blend primary and secondary treated wastewaters to maximize the amount of wet weather flow that can safely be treated prior to disinfection and discharge.” Also testifying before the Subcommittee were Adam Olivieri, Principal Engineer, EOA, Inc.; John Hall, President, Hall & Associates; Joan Rose, Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University; and Nancy Stoner, Director, Clean Water Project, Natural Resources Defense Council. Visit the full Committee’s website (http://www.house.gov/transportation/) to view testimony from the hearing.
Cutting Edge Issues Discussed
at AMSA, CSO Partnership UAA/LTCP Workshop
At this week’s third national workshop, in Chicago, AMSA and the CSO Partnership brought together experts representing all perspectives on the most complex combined sewer overflow (CSO) implementation issues facing municipalities today. EPA’s Director of the Office of Wastewater Management, Jim Hanlon, stated he appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from the front lines on issues such as defining existing use, the implications of the Clean Water Act’s reference to the CSO policy and subcategorizing designated uses. Hanlon indicated his intent to involve EPA’s Office of General Counsel going forward to provide direction to communities on key unanswered long-term control plan questions. Director of Water Permits Division, Linda Boornazian, and Director of Water Quality Standards and Health Protection Division, Denise Keehner, commended attendees on the progress they have made and reported that EPA will soon release a compendium of UAA case studies to provide further guidance. Attendees also heard from municipal representatives on city-specific projects and initiatives. PowerPoint presentations from the Workshop will be available on AMSA’s Conferences & Meetings webpage (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/) next week.
- The pre-registration deadline for inclusion in the Participants List for AMSA’s 35th Anniversary Annual Meeting and National Clean Water Policy Forum is Friday, April 22. Additionally, while hotel rooms remain available at the regular rate, AMSA's special group rate block is currently sold out for the majority of the conference. If you would like assistance in reserving a room for the conference, or find it necessary to cancel your reservation, please contact AMSA’s Nirah Forman at 202/833-2672.
- AMSA mailed its 2005 Financial Survey to members this week, so be on the look-out and make sure you complete the survey by the June 15 deadline. The Survey serves as a comprehensive ‘snapshot’ of treatment facilities’ financing and management trends aiding wastewater agencies in determining their respective benchmarks and goals. Refer to Member Update 05-06 (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/) for more information.