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December 11, 19981816 Jefferson Place to be New Home of AMSA
As a follow-up to our November 30 memo, please be advised that the Board approved moving forward with the purchase of 1816 Jefferson Place. Pursuant to the terms of the Real Estate Purchase Agreement with the seller, settlement must be held within 60 days following the expiration of the Inspection Period, which would be February 3, 1999. The Post-Sale Occupancy Lease, the terms of which are now being finalized in accordance with the terms of our agreement, commences on the settlement date and runs through August 31, 1999, with the Seller having the right to terminate one month earlier. AMSA would move into the new building September 1999.Between now and settlement, we plan to consult with contractors to determine more precisely the costs associated with the recommended repairs and to develop a schedule for the actual work. In this regard, Century Bank has indicated its willingness to provide financing for the needed repairs should AMSA desire to proceed in this direction. In addition to focusing on needed repairs, we are also in the process of developing a modified budget for 1999 that takes into account the purchase of the building and other issues. This will be available for Board consideration in February.
Status of Retainer with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey
Effective November 30, 1998 John Distin left AMSA's Counsel Squire, Sanders & Dempsey to practice law on his own. His departure affords us the opportunity to re- evaluate our needs in this area. We plan to meet with representatives of the firm to discuss the feasibility of continuing our legal retainer arrangement with Squire in the near future. We are also considering other options to ensure that AMSA has the best representation possible. We plan to be in the position to make a recommendation for Board consideration at the February meeting.AMSA to Testify at Senate Y2K Field Hearing
On December 18, AMSA will testify at a field hearing in Anaheim, California of the Senate's Special Committee on the Year 2000 problem. AMSA will be represented at the field hearing by Patrick Miles, Director of Information Technology, from the County Sanitation Districts of Orange County. He will be part of a municipal water and sewer panel. The objective of the panel is to inform the Special Committee on progress being made in the wastewater treatment industry in addressing the Y2K problem and to make specific recommendations for action by the Senate. The AMSA testimony will emphasize data collected in the updated Year 2000 Survey Analysis (see MU 98-21).AMSA Attends Wye River Nonpoint Stakeholder Conference
AMSA took part in the second annual EPA-ASIWPCA (Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators) Nonpoint Source Control stakeholder conference at the Wye River Institute on December 1-2. In attendance were the major stakeholders in the debate about how best to proceed with controlling nonpoint source pollution, including wastewater, water, agriculture, livestock, regulatory, and environmental interests. AMSA's Executive Director delivered a strong message to the participants that EPA's Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process will be severely handicapped without giving the States enforceable authority over nonpoint sources and without assigning to nonpoint sources their proportionate share of the responsibility for pollutant reduction in a watershed. The ASIWPCA leadership has expressed interest in meeting with AMSA's leadership to discuss TMDLs and other nonpoint related issues, including enforceable authority.Urban Wet Weather Watershed Legislation Out for Review
AMSA is taking a lead role in developing an urban wet weather bill designed to give members greater flexibility to cost-effectively control urban wet weather flows. Copies of the draft Urban Wet Weather Watershed Act of 1999 were distributed to the AMSA members for comments on December 4. This bill is being developed and championed by a core group of municipal and other stakeholder organizations, including the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), the American Public Works Association (APWA), the CSO Partnership, the National League of Cities (NLC), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA), and the Water Environment Federation (WEF). In the next month, we will reconvene a meeting of these organizations with the goal of arriving at full consensus on the provisions of the bill. The final wet weather bill will provide a primary focus for AMSA's legislative objectives in the upcoming session of Congress. The House Water Resources and the Environment Subcommittee has already expressed interest in the wet weather bill.National Office Welcomes Two New Staff Members
On November 23, AMSA's National Office welcomed Robin Davis as the new Government Affairs Assistant. Robin comes to AMSA from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where she worked in the Environment and Regulatory Affairs Department. Robin has provided a seamless transition for the AMSA Government Affairs team. Jeni Hornback, the former Government Affairs Assistant was promoted to the new position of AMSA's Manager of Information Systems.Joining the National Office staff early in 1999 will be Lisa DuBois. Lisa will assume the position of Manager, Marketing & Membership Development. She comes to AMSA from the Society for Neuroscience where she served as the Society's Communications & Marketing Coordinator. She has extensive experience in communications, marketing and membership development and retention initiatives. It is anticipated that Lisa will begin work at AMSA on January 4, 1999.
Leadership Organizational Manual Updates to be Distributed
Updates to AMSA's Leadership Organizational Manual will be forwarded to Board members soon. The finalization of a number of initiatives over the past several months, including the Strategic Plan and 1999 General Fund and Technical Action Fund Budgets, have resulted in the need to update numerous sections of your manuals. Updated materials, with instructions for placement, will arrive in your offices soon.AMSA Solicits Contractors For 1999 Financial Survey
AMSA expects to receive several proposals in response to its November 12 RFP to perform the data collection, validation, and analysis work required for AMSA's 1999 Financing and Management Survey. In 1998, the Board approved the use of a contractor to perform these activities in lieu of requesting a volunteer member agency to lead this effort. This project is part of a triennial effort by AMSA to provide a national overview of municipal wastewater financing and management trends. Proposals are due on December 18, 1998. All AMSA affiliates received a copy of the RFP. The 1999 Technical Action Fund Budget targets $25,000 toward this effort.Next Generation Cost of Clean is Drafted
AMSA is finalizing the draft text for The Cost of Clean. . .Meeting Water Quality Challenges in the New Millennium (working title). This joint project of AMSA and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) will document the need for increased federal investment in the control of the next generation of water quality challenges -- combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows, stormwater and nonpoint source pollution – and will serve as an excellent outreach vehicle to support AMSA's legislative agenda. The report will be released at a Washington, DC, press conference on February 11, 1999. AMSA plans to promote extensive coverage via press release to ensure national dissemination of the report's findings. AMSA member agencies will be provided with advance copies of the study, background materials, and a press release, and will be encouraged to notify their local press sources about the release of the study.In a related development, the Rebuild America Coalition (RAC) has asked AMSA Executive Director Ken Kirk to chair a task force that will focus attention on water/ wastewater financing issues. The formation of this RAC task force marks the first time the Coalition has focused attention specifically on water and wastewater infrastructure and is evidence that the Association's affiliation with the Coalition over the past year has proven to be a valuable investment.
AMSA Continues Advocacy on SSOs and Incinerators
Two upcoming quarterly meetings with EPA, one with Mike Cook and Office of Wastewater Management staff, the other with Tudor Davies and Office of Science and Technology staff, highlight AMSA's ongoing efforts to track new EPA initiatives and advocate the development and implementation of reasonable policies and regulations. Two issues expected to be discussed include SSOs and the development of standards for sludge incinerators. While EPA is poised to issue a regulatory proposal on SSOs in early 1999, AMSA recently submitted comments on a draft EPA discussion paper highlighting key components of operation and maintenance (O&M) programs for sanitary sewer collection systems. While strongly agreeing with EPA's conclusion that national numeric criteria for collection system O&M requirements are not applicable, AMSA expressed concerns regarding flexibility to adequately address the individual needs of each system in an efficient and cost effective manner and had strong concerns regarding EPA's direction on public notification requirements for SSOs. AMSA and its Biosolids Management Committee co-chair Bob Dominak also met with NRDC in mid-November to discuss incineration issues relating to Part 503, dioxin, and section129 of the Clean Air Act. This action was followed by a letter from AMSA to Tudor Davies outlining recommendations to EPA to address these issues before any final policy decisions are made.AMSA/WWEMA Procurement Dialogue Planned
At the request of the Water & Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA), AMSA is planning a dialogue on procurement processes and issues among representatives of both Associations. It is likely that the dialogue meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 2, 1999, in Phoenix just prior to AMSA 1999 Winter Conference. Representatives of AMSA's Board of Directors and Competitive Management Committee will be invited to participate in the discussions with WWEMA representatives.Biosolids Management Committee Raises Issues on 3rd Party Verification
Members of AMSA's Biosolids Management Committee have submitted a letter to the National Office outlining issues that need to be addressed by the National Biosolids Partnership relating to the independent, third-party verification initiative that is a major component of the management system for biosolids (MSB). While the Committee is aware that AMSA's Board passed a motion in support of independent third-party verification as a key component of the MSB, they continue to be concerned regarding the potential for EPA to incorporate components of the MSB into regulatory programs such as NPDES permits. EPA's Mike Cook had previously confirmed via letter to AMSA EPA's belief that the MSB should remain voluntary, and that such systems are not intended to serve as a replacement or surrogate for ongoing regulatory programs. Cook also stated that the form that this verification takes should be carefully developed by the Partnership to meet the specific needs of the biosolids industry. WEF has indicated that its Executive Committee will follow the AMSA Board's lead and issue a letter in support of independent, third-party verification. The National Office is in the process of developing a response to the Biosolids Management Committee letter. The next meeting of the Partnership will be held in Washington, DC on January 14-15.AMSA Expresses Concern with EPA Handling of Pretreatment Streamlining Package
AMSA submitted a strongly worded letter of protest on December 10 to Office of Water Assistant Administrator Chuck Fox after the National Office learned that the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) was solicited for their comment on an internal EPA pretreatment streamlining proposed rulemaking document which had undergone OMB review. The proposal has been under development for the past 2 ½ years and included input from a number of stakeholders, including the environmental community. AMSA's concern stems from the fact that NRDC's comments were solicited outside of the administrative rulemaking process. AMSA reacted promptly by requesting a copy of NRDC's comments as well as the OMB package. AMSA's December 10 letter offers comments in response to many of NRDC's concerns and strongly urges EPA to take decisive and immediate steps to ensure a level playing field in all future rulemakings.John Koeper Tenders Resignation
AMSA Region VII Board Member, John Koeper is retiring after 29 years of service with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and as a result has tendered his resignation from AMSA's Board of Directors. In his letter of resignation Koeper indicated that he had enjoyed working with the AMSA staff and Board this past year and leaves "...knowing the AMSA will always have a leadership role in protecting the environment." The seat formerly held by Koeper will be filled by election at the May Annual Meeting.Members of the Board of Directors should also be aware that increased membership in AMSA has resulted in the availability of an additional Board seat in Region X. The Nominating Committee will begin soliciting candidates for both the Region VII seat vacated by Koeper, and the new seat in Region X, early next year in anticipation of elections at the May Annual Meeting.
Hotel Reservation Reminder
AMSA's Winter Conference is quickly approaching. Just a reminder that the deadline for hotel reservation at the Sheraton Crescent Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona is January 8. Board members are encouraged to make their reservations as soon as possible by contacting the hotel at 1-800/423-4126.