Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - April 26, 2002
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April 26, 2002
AMSA Urges EPA to Support Mehan’s SSO Plan
In an April 22 letter to EPA’s Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water, Benjamin Grumbles, and Acting Assistant Administrator for Water, Diane Regas, AMSA urged EPA to move forward with the plan for a proposed sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) rule as announced by Tracy Mehan, the Assistant Administrator for Water, in November 2001. Under this plan the proposed SSO rule would include the text from the January 2001 draft with revised preamble language inviting comment on potential alternative regulatory options, including alternatives to the draft rule’s zero overflow standard. AMSA restated its long-held position in the letter that “this [SSO proposed] rule be developed in an integrated and holistic manner, and it not be divided into separate parts,” adding “[i]n many cases, the lack of substantial progress in SSO control can be attributed solely to the absence of a single federal rule which spells out all applicable requirements and compliance standards.” AMSA will continue to work with EPA staff to support a single SSO rule that makes real-world sense for the wastewater treatment community. AMSA’s letter is available on the Association’s website at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/outreach/042202EPAletter.pdf.
AMSA Supports EPA Proposed Changes to Air Act Standards
AMSA provided EPA with comments this week in support of the Agency’s National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP); Publicly Owned Treatment Works, Proposed Amendments. Specifically, AMSA supported proposed amendments to maximum achievable control technology standards for area source industrial POTWs, and to set generally available control technology standards under the Clean Air Act’s urban air toxics program at a “no control” for area source new or existing non-industrial POTWs. These and other modifications that affect POTWs, discussed in detail in AMSA’s comments, will benefit the wastewater community across the board —industrial and non-industrial POTWs alike. AMSA will seek to ensure that these amendments become final. AMSA’s comments can be downloaded from the Association’s website at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/outreach/042202112kcomments.pdf.
Register Now for AMSA’s May Conference
With EPA Administrator, Christine Todd Whitman, giving a keynote address at AMSA’s 2002 National Environmental Policy Forum & 32nd Annual Meeting, May 18-22 in Washington, D.C., hotel rooms are going quickly. Monday, April 29th is the hotel deadline to receive group rates at the Marriott at Metro Center, so make your reservations immediately by calling 800/228-9290. AMSA’s priority legislative issues, including wastewater infrastructure, wet weather and security funding have garnered tremendous attention on Capitol Hill and at EPA, making this Policy Forum — The 30th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act . . . Looking to the Future — a unique opportunity for the voice of POTWs to profoundly improve national environmental policy. To register for the conference, visit http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/02nepf/.
- Register now for the final AMSA asset management workshop in Kansas City, Mo., June 6-7, at http://www.amsacleanwater.org/meetings/02regwork/.
- Please complete and return by May 7 AMSA’s 2002 Wet Weather Survey — a vital information resource for key regulatory issues, including a reasonable sanitary sewer overflow rule and blending policy. The Survey is available online at www.amsa-cleanwater.org.