Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts SpecialEdition - June 14, 2004
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June 14, 2004
Action Please by June 18, 2004
Member Input Sought on Draft Senate Funding Bill
The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee has released a legislative discussion draft of a new water infrastructure bill. Committee staff has requested comments on the proposal from AMSA members as soon as possible. AMSA members are urged to review the draft and send comments back to Lee Garrigan (lgarrigan@amsa-cleanwater.org) by this Friday, June 18.A copy of the EPW Committee’s Section-by-Section overview is attached in MS-Word format. The Discussion Draft of the infrastructure bill can be downloaded for review and comment from the AMSA website (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/outreach/2004-06-08idd.doc).
Major Provisions
The draft bill would authorize over $20 billion for clean water and $15 billion for safe drinking water over five years, would expand the project eligibility list, redefine affordability for disadvantaged communities and neighborhoods, and would make the funds available to both public and privately owned systems.Significantly, the proposal would require States to establish a project priority system that gives added weight to applicants that submit, among other things, an inventory of assets, a schedule for replacement of assets, a financing plan indicating sources of revenue, a review of options for restructuring the treatment works, and a review of options for non-traditional approaches to treating discharges. It also directs States to set aside a portion of its SRF for grants under certain conditions which can be waived if a State has processed its last 100 loan applications in 90 days or less.
The draft bill authorizes a demonstration program at $20 million per year over five years to promote innovations in technology and alternative approaches to water quality management and water supply. The EPW Committee also has included a Cost of Service Study to be performed by the National Academy of Sciences which will look at the means by which public treatment works meet the costs associated with operations, maintenance, capital replacement and regulatory requirements. In a separate report, the entire state revolving loan fund would be reviewed by the EPA Administrator to identify ways to expedite and improve the application and review process.
How to Respond
AMSA encourages you to read the Discussion Draft and provide your comments as soon as possible to Lee Garrigan at lgarrigan@amsa-cleanwater.org or by phone at 202/833-4655. Your response will provide valuable input for the staff of the EPW Committee as they move forward with a final infrastructure funding bill.