Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - June 13, 2003
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June 13, 2003
AMSA Urges EPA To Avoid Use of Draft Science in Rulemakings
AMSA sent a letter today to EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Research Development and Chair of the Science Policy Council, Paul Gilman, voicing its concern over the potential use of scientific findings from EPA’s draft Dioxin Reassessment in a pending Agency regulation on dioxin in land-applied biosolids. The Council, comprised of key EPA leaders from nearly every Agency office, is scheduled to meet next week to consider whether it is appropriate for EPA’s Office of Water to apply the draft Dioxin Reassessment science to the biosolids rule. As expressed in its letter, AMSA maintains that basing final rules on “draft science” would create a dangerous and far-reaching precedent and asserts that rulemakings, dealing with biosolids or any other program area, should be based on sound, peer-reviewed science. The draft Dioxin Reassessment has not yet received backing from all federal agencies, and is expected to undergo review by the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrating that the Reassessment’s science is not yet ready for inclusion in any EPA rulemaking. AMSA will advocate this position as EPA continues to consider the use of draft science in final rules. A copy of the letter is available on AMSA’s website at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/reg_outreach.cfm.CleanWater Central Nears Release, Undergoes Beta-Testing
AMSA is currently working collaboratively with the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) to release a newly developed and enhanced CleanWater Central database, and to maximize its functionality and user-friendliness via careful beta-testing of the system. The beta-testing, currently underway at nearly twenty public wastewater agencies, will not only make certain that the system provides easy access to the information and effective methods for data input, but will also ensure the system contains a robust baseline set of data when it is launched. Through this collaborative effort AMSA will provide its members with access to virtually all of the Association’s financial surveys, wet weather surveys, indexes and reports, and provide a platform for conducting future surveys. The database will be officially released at AMSA’s 2003 Summer Conference. More information on the database will be in the June issue of Clean Water News and upcoming Alerts and Updates.Summer Conference Approaches, Hotel Deadline Extended
The deadline to reserve a hotel at the special conference rate for AMSA’s 2003 Summer Conference, Water Quality and the Wastewater Community: Emerging Pollutants, New Challenges, has been extended to June 16, so act now to reserve your room and join AMSA in beautiful Boston, Massachusetts, July 15-18, for what promises to be an engaging and compelling conference. EPA Assistant Administrator, G. Tracy Mehan, will be a featured keynote speaker and will explore the Agency’s continued focus on watershed planning and plans to implement watershed-based initiatives, such as innovative permitting and credit trading programs. For room reservations, call the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel at 617/267-5300 and indicate you are a registrant for the AMSA conference to receive the special discount room rate of $195 single/double. Visit AMSA’s website at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/03summer/ for detailed online registration information and an up-to-date agenda. Please feel free to contact AMSA’s National Office at 202/833-2672 with any questions regarding the Conference.