Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - August 18, 2006
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for the FaxAlert ArchiveAugust 18, 2006
NACWA Comments
that Sludge Incinerators Not Subject to Air Act Regulations
NACWA submitted comments (http://www.nacwa.org/getfile.cfm?fn=2006-08-14EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0156.pdf) this week reiterating to EPA that sewage sludge incinerators (SSIs) should not be regulated as "other solid waste incinerators" (OSWIs) under the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA agreed with that position when it issued the final OSWI rule in December 2005, excluding SSIs from regulation. However, in response to a petition from the Sierra Club, which has long sought to include SSIs in the regulation, the Agency announced June 28 it would reconsider whether SSIs should be excluded from CAA § 129 regulations for OSWIs. In its comments, NACWA pointed out that this determination was made after 10 years of rulemaking effort, judicial challenges, and negotiations involving the full gamut of interested parties. NACWA will closely track this issue and will continue to work with the Agency to ensure SSIs do not become subject to unnecessary regulation. NACWA will keep members informed of ongoing negotiations through Updates and Alerts as this issue evolves.NACWA Supports Challenge
to Biosolids Ban by Southern California Members
NACWA backed a lawsuit filed August 15 by its members, the City of Los Angeles, the Sanitations Districts of Los Angeles County, and the Orange County Sanitation District, and others challenging a ban passed by voters in June on the importation and land application of biosolids in Kern County. NACWA issued a press release (http://www.nacwa.org/advocacy/releases/081506.cfm) announcing its support and sent it to several dozen news organizations in an effort to call attention to this important issue. NACWA members in Southern California have spent millions of dollars to ensure the safe and responsible management of their biosolids in a way that satisfies, and even exceeds, state and federal requirements. NACWA stands ready to assist its members in any way as this litigation moves forward.NACWA Briefs Hill Staff on Infrastructure Funding Issues
More than 30 people attended a NACWA briefing Capitol Hill for Congressional staff on the Clean Water Trust Act of 2005 (H.R. 4560) and the critical need for a renewed federal commitment to help fund clean water infrastructure. Providing an overview of the bill was Jon Pawlow, Counsel to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources & Environment, who called on the Capitol Hill staffers to seek support for HR 4560 from the Representatives for whom they work. In addition, more than 15 representatives from Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) member organizations were present, and several key groups discussed the importance of the legislation to their respective members. NACWA plans to hold additional briefings in the future to help build and maintain momentum for the bill.NACWA Urges
Members to Complete Key Survey on Pandemic Preparedness
NACWA notified clean water agencies through a Special Edition Fax Alert sent yesterday (http://www.nacwa.org/private/faxalerts/20060817se.cfm) of a survey commissioned by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on emergency preparedness in the event of a pandemic. NACWA urges its members to participate in this survey, which will be used to make recommendations on critical infrastructure prioritization during a pandemic event. In line with this important request, NACWA is making both the survey form and the background document outlining the federal government’s objectives and instructions for completing the survey, available on NACWA’s website (http://www.nacwa.org/private/pas.cfm). Please submit the completed surveys by August 25 to Adam Krantz, NACWA Managing Director of Government and Public Affairs, at akrantz@nacwa.org or by fax at 202/833-4657.