| To: | Members & Subscribers |
| From: | National Office |
| Date: | April 2, 1998 |
| Re: | LA98-3 |
Capitol Hill Reception & Visits
AMSA's 1998 National Environmental Policy Forum & 28th Annual Meeting, May 16-20 in
Washington, DC, will provide AMSA members with the perfect opportunity to meet with
their representatives in Congress. This Legislative Alert has been developed to assist
members in preparing for these visits and also forwards invitations to AMSA's Capitol
Hill Reception.
AMSA Members to Invite Legislators to Capitol Hill Reception
AMSA will be hosting a Capitol Hill Reception in the Gold Room of the Rayburn House
Office Building on Tuesday, May 19, 1998 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Included with this
Legislative Alert are three reception invitations provided for you to personalize
and mail to members of your Congressional delegation.
Please use the correspondence sheet included with each invitation to send a personal
note to members of your Congressional delegation inviting them to our reception.
When extending your invitation, you may wish to emphasize that you will be in town
for AMSA's Forum and will be contacting members of their staff to arrange a meeting.
This is a great opportunity to meet informally with legislators. Please send your
invitations without delay. AMSA members requiring additional invitations should
contact Sharon Powell at 202/833-1449 at the National Office. RSVPs are requested
by May 8, 1998.
AMSA Presence on Capitol Hill Essential
AMSA's presence on Capitol Hill is now more essential than ever as legislators consider
many issues important to the POTW community, including Superfund and the 1999 appropriations.
Additionally, the chairs of both the Senate and House committees with jurisdiction over the
Clean Water Act have announced intentions to reauthorize the statute during the early months
of the 106th Congress next year. It is crucial that AMSA members engage with Members of
Congress and their staff to share Clean Water Act priorities now, before
legislation is drafted. The afternoon of Tuesday, May 19 has been set aside for AMSA
members to schedule Capitol Hill visits. Please plan now to meet with your representative
or their staff. Information to assist you in contacting representatives is included with
this Alert.
Legislative Breakfast Will Prepare Members for Hill Visits
A Legislative Breakfast will be held on Tuesday, May 19 from 7:30 - 9:00 am during AMSA's
1998 Policy Forum. AMSA National Office staff will prepare and distribute briefing material
on AMSA issues to assist members during meetings with Members of Congress and their staff.
This year there are a number of important issues that members may want to share/discuss,
including:
The Wet Weather Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998 - AMSA, with input from the National
League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the CSO Partnership, has begun drafting
legislation to address the growing frustration with a number of crucial wet weather issues.
The Wet Weather Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998, which would amend the Clean Water
Act, will focus on 1) codifying EPA's Combined Sewer Overflow Policy; 2) clarifying
expectations for municipal sanitary sewer system operation; 3) clarifying expectations for
municipal stormwater permittees; and 4) providing authorities to states to regulate
nonpoint sources of pollution. Draft recommendations on specific issues are currently
under review by selected AMSA members. Upon completion, AMSA will pursue opportunities
to have the legislation introduced in Congress this year.
The Wet Weather Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998 will outline several key issues that
must be addressed during Clean Water Act reauthorization and will position AMSA to play an
important role during reauthorization discussions next year. Members are encouraged to
discuss this important AMSA initiative during Hill visits and reaffirm the need to address
to address these issues in order to improve water quality.
Funding for the Clean Water Action Plan - The Senate is currently debating a Budget Resolution
to set spending levels in 1999. As of this writing, there is little support with the majority
for providing the $548 million requested by the Administration to fund the Clean Water Action
Plan. The Republican leadership has cited concerns that the funding would violate the terms
of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and that the Plan itself oversteps the authority of the
Clean Water Act. Both the House and the Senate subcommittees with jurisdiction over funding
for the Environmental Protection Agency are scheduled to take public testimony later this month. The AMSA National Office will write to all Members of Congress requesting that funding for the Action Plan be included with the Agency's budget. AMSA will point out that the Action Plan takes the first real steps to address nonpoint source pollution, which is the largest remaining contributor to water pollution. Copies of the testimony will be forwarded to all AMSA members, who will also be asked to weigh-in with representatives. The May Hill Visits will provide the perfect opportunity for members to follow-up on this issue.
Superfund & POTW Liability - Early last month the House Transportation & Infrastructure
Subcommittee on Water Resources & Environment approved H.R.2727, the Superfund Acceleration,
Fairness and Efficiency Act for consideration by the full committee. AMSA was successful
in negotiating an amendment, titled Innocent Owners and Operators of Sewage Treatment
Works, which severely limits POTW liability under Superfund. Although this is not AMSA's
preferred method for addressing POTW liability under Superfund, it is a vast improvement
and the amendments inclusion in H.R.2727 greatly improves AMSA's negotiating position.
Only a few AMSA members have been involved in Superfund liability cases, but the potential
for additional cases is enormous. Members should discuss this issue during Hill Visits and
express the need for a remedy.
National Biosolids Partnership - AMSA is actively pursuing additional funding support in the
form of a $1 million 1999 legislative appropriation to ensure development and completion of
crucial National Biosolids Partnership initiatives. The National Biosolids Partnership,
comprised of AMSA and the Water Environment Federation, with U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) serving as an advisor, has organized around the premise that in the five years
since sewage sludge regulations, misinformation and unfounded fears have undermined progress
in public acceptance of beneficial use activities. AMSA has sent a message to Capitol Hill
that an immediate, sustained, and strategic effort is needed to ensure that the benefits of
this valuable recycled resource are widely recognized and the Federal government's goals of
beneficial use is realized. The $1 million appropriation would primarily support the
development of a Code of Management Practices that, through third party verification, would
facilitate public acceptance of biosolids. The monies requested for 1999 would supplement
the approximately $250,000 made available by EPA in 1998. AMSA member agencies have been
active in supporting this effort through correspondence to Capitol Hill and members should
take the opportunity to further discuss the Partnership during Hill visits next month.
Briefing material provided during the Legislative Breakfast will include background
information, action items and talking points. Members should refer to monthly Legislative
and Regulatory Updates for additional information on these and other important AMSA issues.
Senator Bond and Representative Oberstar Invited to Speak
Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO), chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on VA,
HUD & Independent Agencies and Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN) have been invited to
speak during AMSA's Legislative Breakfast. Senator Bond chairs the Senate subcommittee
responsible for funding the Environmental Protection Agency. This year, his committee
will consider funding requests from the President for the Clean Water Action Plan.
Based on current reports, it seems likely that the President's request will not be
supported by the Republican Majority of the Senate for various reasons, including
conflicts with the Balanced Budget Act and Clean Water Act authority to carry out
Action Plan initiatives. Senator Bond has been invited to provide remarks about
1999 funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and decisions made affecting
the funding of Clean Water Action Plan Initiatives.
Representative Oberstar will be the recipient of AMSA's 1998 Federal Public Service
Award for his work on nonpoint source pollution control. Oberstar is the sponsor of
H.R.550, the Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Act of 1997 and the ranking member
of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.
H.R.550 aggressively takes aim s improving water quality by addressing nonpoint
source pollution in targeted watersheds and highlight Oberstar's awareness of
current environmental problems and willingness to tackle difficult issues.
Preparing for Hill Visits
Included with this Alert is a "Tip Sheet" and sample letter developed to assist you
in contacting your Member of Congress. For Congressional phone and fax numbers,
please refer to the Government Relations Directory forwarded from the AMSA National
Office during the beginning of the 105th Congress. If you need additional information,
please contact Christy Kettell (202/833-3692) at the AMSA National Office.
We look forward to seeing you in May!
ATTACHMENTS:
Tip Sheet - Preparation for Capitol Hill Visits
AMSA Letter of Introduction to Members of Congress
