Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - April 19, 2002
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April 19, 2002
Whitman to Keynote AMSA’s May Conference
AMSA is pleased to announce that EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman will provide a keynote address at the Association's 2002 National Environmental Policy Forum & 32nd Annual Meeting — The 30th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act . . . Looking To the Future, May 18-22, 2002 in Washington, DC. Governor Whitman will address conference attendees on Tuesday, April 19 at 10:00 am on issues of priority to the wastewater treatment community, including infrastructure funding and wastewater treatment plant security. To register for AMSA's 2002 Policy Forum, visit http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/02nepf/.
AMSA Escalates Efforts to Modify Senate Infrastructure Bill
AMSA has met throughout the week with key Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) staff pushing hard for modifications to the Water Investment Act of 2002 (S. 1961). AMSA urges its members to contact their Senators on EPW and express support of Sen. Voinovich's (R-OH) Substitute Amendment to S. 1961 prior to a slated April 25 EPW mark up. The "Voinovich Substitute" does not include many of the objectionable prerequisites for funding contained in S. 1961, including requiring POTWs to develop EPA and state-approved asset management and rate structure plans, among others. S. 1961 would also force treatment works in "significant non-compliance" with the Clean Water Act to obtain an EPA Consent Decree before being allowed to access SRF funds. Copies of S. 1961 and the Voinovich Substitute are available at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/faxalerts/041202a.pdf.
Court Grants AMSA’s Motion to Intervene in Key Clean Water Act Case
The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia granted AMSA's motion to intervene in a precedent-setting Clean Water Act (CWA) case, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, et al., v. Whitman. In the case, environmental groups are challenging EPA's approval of West Virginia's antidegradation implementation policies. Backed by national environmental groups, the Ohio Valley plaintiffs are seeking stringent, no growth antidegradation policies that could have adverse impacts on POTWs nationwide. West Virginia, like many states, has antidegradation policies with important POTW exemptions, making this West Virginia legal battle a landmark lawsuit with broad consequences. Legal documents are available at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/littrack/littrack.cfm#12.
EPA Official Updates AMSA on Water Quality Trading Policy
David Batchelor, lead official on EPA's water quality trading policy, briefed AMSA members this week on the Association's bi-monthly Legal Hot Topics conference call. Batchelor indicated that EPA's latest draft trading policy will be reviewed by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and likely will be published for comments in the Federal Register soon. Batchelor previewed revisions to a February 2002 draft that address many POTW concerns.
AMSA Urges Conferees to Boost Water Quality Funding in Farm Bill
AMSA, as part of a coalition of municipal organizations, signed a letter today to congressional conferees of the Farm Bill, recommending, among other things, "a significant increase in funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program aimed at improving water quality in watersheds nationwide in cooperation with local water utilities." The letter also recommends full funding for programs that will help control non-point source pollution. The letter is available on AMSA's website at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/outreach/041902coalitionletter.pdf.