Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - July 27, 2001
Click Here
to see previous Fax Alerts
July 27, 2001
Mehan, Fabricant Testify at Senate Confirmation Hearing
In its first meeting under the leadership of new Chairman Jim Jeffords (I-VT) on July 25 the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee reviewed the nominations of G. Tracy Mehan as EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water, Robert Fabricant as EPA General Counsel, and Don Schregardus as Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. On the topic of water infrastructure, Mehan indicated that while "there is a federal role and a significant one, it needs some refinement." Mehan indicated he wants to find a balance between loans and grants, and to evaluate how asset management can play a role in the solution. Schregardus promised a vigorous enforcement program and highlighted past success setting municipal enforcement records as Region V’s Chief of Enforcement. The nominees are expected to be confirmed before the Congress takes its recess in early August.See the nominees’ statements at: http://www.senate.gov/~epw/stm1_107.htm#07-25-01.
AMSA Reviews Priority Issues with EPA Science Director
On July 24 AMSA met with EPA Office of Science and Technology (OST) Director Geoffrey Grubbs to cover the latest EPA activity on nutrients, total maximum daily loads, whole effluent toxicity (WET), effluent limitations guidelines, and biosolids. A full synopsis of the meeting will be featured in the upcoming July/August edition of AMSA’s Regulatory Update. AMSA will continue to pursue regular meetings with OST to exchange information and to explore opportunities to work together.
Senate Infrastructure Hearing Centers on Municipal Needs
On July 23 the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on the federal role in infrastructure needs, the witness list included the mayors of New Orleans, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Washington, DC. Water infrastructure was the hot topic, and Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell noted that even after investing $3.2 billion in wastewater system upgrades over the next 13 years, the City still may not achieve compliance with Clean Water Act mandates. Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) tasked the Mayors with developing recommendations on federal/local infrastructure partnerships, including evaluating the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) recommendations. AMSA continues our infrastructure advocacy, with the hopes that legislation will be drafted in the 107th Congress. See the hearing testimony at: http://www.senate.gov/~epw/stm1_107.htm#07-23-01.
AMSA Objects to Creation of International Wastewater Standards
AMSA and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) recently expressed concern with a French proposal for the International Standards Organization (ISO) to develop international protocols for the service activities relating to sewerage and drinking water supply. In comments sent July 20 to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the U.S. standard setting body that will vote on the French proposal, AMSA notes that the existing French standards may not be the appropriate starting point for international standards and may conflict with the numerous domestic activities well underway to address wastewater facility management – including asset management programs and environmental management system (EMS) development. AMSA and WEF will continue to track this emerging issue. See AMSA’s letter and the French proposal at: http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/outreach/7-23-01ansiisoetter.pdf.
- EPA Appropriations on House Floor. As you read this fax, the House is currently considering EPA’s Budget for FY 2002. AMSA will feature this breaking news story in next week’s FaxAlert.