NACWA - Member Pipeline

Home

Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - May 25, 2001

May 25, 2001

Jeffords Quits GOP, Democrats Regain Control of Senate
With Sen. Jim Jeffords’ (D-VT) announcement yesterday that he is leaving the GOP and becoming an Independent, Democrats will gain control of the Senate for the first time since 1994. Jeffords’ shift in parties will not be official, however, until either the tax bill leaves the Senate or until June 5th, whichever is later. The move has left many open questions regarding who will take over for Sen. Robert Smith (R-NH) as chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee. According to Democratic staffers on the committee, Jeffords is likely to take over the chairmanship with Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) continuing to take an active leadership role in committee activities. Reid plans to focus on his new role as Senate Majority Whip. Staffers generally believe, however, that because of Reid’s and Smith’s continuing influence on the committee, water infrastructure will remain one of its top priorities. Reid recently introduced a drinking water infrastructure bill that would boost funding for small communities, and Smith - a 2001 AMSA award recipient - has been a longtime ally in making water infrastructure a national priority.

AMSA’s Annual Forum Lends Momentum To Key Issues
The success of AMSA’s 2001 Annual Environment Forum & 31st Annual Meeting this past week was perhaps most evident from the high level of discussion and advocacy on the Association’s priority issues. AMSA made a strong case to EPA officials that its upcoming sanitary sewer overflow proposal should include specific language that would make implementation of a capacity, management, operation and maintenance strategy, or "CMOM", an affirmative defense to EPA enforcement actions. EPA officials, including Michael Cook, Director of the Office of Wastewater Management, agreed to explore this issue further with AMSA. AMSA member agencies had a productive discussion with Sheila Frace, Director of EPA’s Engineering and Analysis Division in the Office of Science & Technology (OST), on the proposed effluent limitations guidelines for the metal products and machinery point source category. EPA agreed to convene a meeting of POTW and agency representatives to discuss the rule’s impacts. Similarly, Geoff Grubbs, Director of OST, stated that EPA is willing to discuss with AMSA potential solutions to issues raised by EPA’s ecoregional nutrient criteria, including allowing the regulated community additional time to develop more flexible criteria that take into consideration effects on designated uses.

AMSA Congratulates Its Newly-Elected Officers
AMSA is pleased to welcome back some old friends in their newly-elected positions within the AMSA family! Gurnie Gunter, Director of Kansas City’s Water Services Department will serve as AMSA’s President. Paul Pinault, Executive Director of the Narragansett Bay Commission will serve as Vice President. Thomas "Buddy" Morgan, General Manager of the Montgomery Water Works Board & Sanitary Sewer Board is Treasurer, and William Schatz, General Counsel of Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is our new Secretary. Congratulations!

> To all members who visited their Congressional delegations during AMSA’s 2001 National Environmental Forum and 31st Annual Meeting, please fill out and submit the AMSA questionnaires regarding these visits. For additional forms or if you have any questions, please contact Robin Davis at (202) 833-3280.

> If you are planning to participate in AMSA’s summer conference, The Biosolids Challenge . . . Ensuring Success, from July 17-20, 2001 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, please be advised that the cutoff to make hotel reservations is June 20th. For reservations, please call the historic Pfister Hotel at 1-800-558-8222. AMSA looks forward to seeing all of you there!