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Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - April 7, 2006

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April 7, 2006

Discount Room Rate Expires Today for Clean Water Policy Forum

Although rooms will remain available, today is the final day to receive the discount hotel rate of $219 single/double for the joint NACWA/WEF 2006 National Clean Water Policy Forum, April 30 – May 3, 2006.  NACWA urges members to make their reservations today in order to take advantage of this special rate by calling the Capital Hilton at 202/393-1000.  Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a diverse array of speakers and panels at this year’s Forum.  EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water, Benjamin Grumbles, will provide an overview of EPA programs affecting the nation’s clean water facilities, including the upcoming finalization of the Agency’s peak wet weather flow guidance, efforts on utility management, and other key water quality programs.  NACWA urges members to participate in an active Q&A session following his remarks.  While EPA’s focus remains on point source control, NACWA and WEF have developed a panel that will delve into what the nonpoint source community is doing to help achieve the Clean Water Act’s objectives and to explore innovative and cooperative methods to protect and enhance the nation’s waterways.  Richard Coombe, a senior official with the Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, as well as representatives from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the American Sport Fishing Association, have also been confirmed for the Forum.  For an up-to-date agenda and online registration information, visit NACWA’s Conferences & Meetings webpage (http://www.nacwa.org/meetings/06may/).

Chlorine Gas Decision Tool Complete, Available to NACWA Members Next Week

NACWA is pleased to announce the completion of the Chlorine Gas Decision Tool, a CD-based application that the Association developed for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Advanced Research Projects Agency.  The Tool is designed to provide water and wastewater utilities with a straightforward, do-it-yourself process for evaluating alternative disinfection options.  It also allows users to identify the characteristics of a disinfection option that are most important to their agency (e.g., process reliability, safety to the public) and then rate the different disinfection alternatives for each of these characteristics.  With some basic chemical use information and cost figures, the tool provides a cost-benefit analysis of the disinfection alternatives based on the agency-specific information provided.  NACWA will send out a Member Update early next week with more information on the Tool and how Association members can obtain a complimentary copy. 

NACWA Weighs in with OMB on EPA Removal Credit Provision

NACWA reiterated its concerns this week over EPA's potential expansion of the existing removal credits provision with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), highlighting elements of the Association's comments on EPA's notice from last fall that announced the possible changes (http://www.nacwa.org/getfile.cfm?fn=2005-12OW-2005-0024Cnts.pdf).  Among other changes, EPA is considering the addition of several new pollutants to its existing list that are eligible for removal credits.  The Association continues to believe that the liability a wastewater treatment authority must assume when it grants a removal credit will prevent extensive use of the provision, regardless of the number of pollutants that are eligible for such credits.  In the Association’s December 13, 2005, comments, NACWA said the decision of whether to allow a removal credit must consider a number of important variables.  One concern is that while toxics entering a clean water facility may be removed during the normal course of treatment, this removal is incidental and may only occur during optimal operating conditions.  Thus, upset variables such as solids bulking, biota changes, temperature changes, or heavy rain could limit this incidental removal and lead to permit violations for the treatment plant.  There are also possible implications for biosolids management when considering a removal credit.  The Association will continue to assert its position that the proposed changes to the removal credits provision are not warranted and will provide members with more information when it becomes available.