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April 28, 2000
Key Democratic Senators Support EPA's TMDL Program
Leading Democratic Senators are supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) total maximum daily load (TMDL) program, which has been the subject of intense congressional scrutiny and legislation aiming to delay, derail or gut the program. Reflecting many of AMSA's positions on TMDLs, nonpoint source pollution, and proportionate share, Sens. Daniel Moynihan (D-N.Y.), Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Harry Reid (D-Nevada), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) sent a joint letter to EPA Administrator Browner “to express support” for the TMDL program. The senators, five of whom sit on the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, noted that “pollutants that contribute to water [quality] violations come from many sources, not just pipes or other point sources, but also from a wide variety of nonpoint sources.” The letter emphasized that “States have the responsibility to ensure that all contributors to water quality violations are held proportionately responsible. Otherwise point source operators absorb all the costs of pollution for which they are only partially responsible.” The senators concluded by urging EPA “to strengthen its TMDL regulations to better implement this program.” AMSA will continue to closely track congressional activity regarding TMDLs and seek opportunities to communicate the Association's positions.AMSA Conducts 'Future Mapping' for May Policy Forum
This week, participants in AMSA's Future Mapping Initiative engaged in three days of intensive discussions on the future of the nation's water quality program. The goal of the Future Mapping process is to synthesize the views of a broad spectrum of stakeholders into a series of possible future scenarios for the water program. The results of the process will be unveiled on Monday, May 22 at AMSA's 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting and National Environmental Policy Forum in Washington, DC. Please note that the hotel cutoff for the Policy Forum is today and the pre-registration deadline is May 10.EPA Finalizes 'Alaska Rule'
This week, EPA finalized a rule specifying that new and revised standards adopted by States become “applicable standards for Clean Water Act purposes” only when approved by EPA. To facilitate transition to this approach, standards in effect under State law and submitted to EPA before the effective date of the new rule may still be used for Clean Water Act purposes, whether or not approved by EPA, until replaced by Federal water quality standards or approved State standards. Regulatory Alert 00-09 contains more information on the rule and potential impacts on POTWs. The rule goes into effect May 30.The National Biosolids Partnership Will Issue Two RFPs next week for consultant assistance to support the Environmental Management System (EMS). The first project is to conduct a gap analysis for 11 EMS demonstration pilot agencies. The second involves assisting EMS Demonstration pilot agencies in implementing the EMS. A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for May 24, and the deadline for proposals is June 5. For more information contact Nick Bardis at NBP at 703/684-7731 or nbardis@wef.org.
Originally scheduled for Sunday May 20 at 2:30-3:30pm, AMSA's Air Quality Committee will not meet during AMSA's upcoming Policy Forum. Although EPA's schedule for its Urban Air Toxics Strategy has slowed significantly, AMSA is monitoring the strategy's development.