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April 17, 1998
Deadline Approaching for May Policy Forum & 28th Annual Meeting
AMSA’s strength lies in its members, and with a number of significant legislative and regulatory issues currently on the national agenda, members should take advantage of the important opportunity to address these issues with elected and appointed leaders during the Association’s upcoming National Environmental Policy Forum and 28th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, May 16-20. Call the Washington Marriott at 800/228-9290 today to reserve your room for this important conference. The hotel cut-off date for the special AMSA room rate is Saturday, April 25. And don’t forget to get your conference reservation form into AMSA as well!
Legislative Breakfast Will Prepare Members for Hill Visits
AMSA staff will prepare members for their meetings with Members of Congress and their staff during the Legislative Breakfast on Tues., May 19. Briefing material will be provided including background information, action items, and talking points on this year’s important issues that members may want to discuss, including:
The Wet Weather Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998 - AMSA, with input from the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the CSO Partnership, has begun drafting legislation to address the growing frustration with a number of crucial wet weather issues.
Funding for the Clean Water Action Plan - The Senate is currently debating a Budget Resolution to increase water quality program funding by $568 million next year and more than $2.5 billion over the next five years to implement the administration’s Clean Water Action Plan.
Superfund & POTW Liability - AMSA successfully negotiated an amendment that limits POTW liability under Superfund in H.R.2727, the Superfund Acceleration, Fairness and Efficiency Act, which will soon be considered by the full House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. The amendment’s inclusion in H.R.2727 greatly improves AMSA’s negotiating position. Only a few AMSA members have been involved in Superfund liability cases, but the potential for additional cases is enormous.
Support for the National Biosolids Partnership - AMSA is pursuing additional funding support in the form of a $1 million 1999 legislative appropriation to ensure development and completion of crucial National Biosolids Partnership initiatives, especially a Code of Management Practices that, through third party verification, will promote public acceptance of biosolids.
Members Will Mingle with Legislators During AMSA’s Capitol Hill Reception
AMSA will be hosting a Capitol Hill reception on the evening of Tues., May 19 where members can informally meet with legislators following office visits arranged for the afternoon of May 19. Three reception invitations were included with Legislative Update 98-3 so that all AMSA members and affiliates could personally invite their Congressional delegates to this reception. Please be sure to invite your delegation today.
National Environmental Regulatory Issues to be Addressed
With the theme, Implementing the Administration’s Clean Water Initiative, the Policy Forum will highlight key issues and action items from the Administration’s Clean Water Action Plan. Robert Perciasepe, EPA’s assistant administrator for Water, and James Lyons, assistant secretary of the USDA, will kick off the Policy Forum on May 18 with a co-keynote entitled, Implementing the Clean Water Initiative: A Status Report. Policy Forum attendees will also hear from high-ranking directors and leaders of various EPA offices and affected stakeholders about the role each is playing in implementing the Action Plan and other significant regulatory policy issues. The Forum will conclude with Technical Roundtable discussions.
Other key events during the upcoming meeting include the annual AMSA National Environmental Achievement Awards Luncheon, the conferring of the first-ever AMSA Platinum Awards, and meetings of all AMSA Special Committees.
Ø AMSA learned this week that EPA has decided to withdraw its proposed rule for maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standard POTWs under section 112 of the Clean Air Act. In light of recent evidence provided by AMSA, EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards has said it will resubmit a new rule at a later time. (See AMSA FaxAlert 2-27-98 for more information on AMSA's recent negotiations with EPA on this issue.)