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Action Please By: May 29, 1998

To:

Members & Affiliates

From:

National Office

Date:

May 22, 1998

Reference:

LA 98-4

Member Action Required On Biosolids Partnership Funding

On Tuesday, May 19 staff from the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees with jurisdiction over the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) budget met with AMSA’s members in Washington, DC during the Association’s 1998 National Environmental Policy Forum & 28th Annual Meeting. The staff acknowledged the value of the development of a Code of Management Practices as set forth in the National Biosolids Partnership request for $1 million (see AMSA FaxAlert dated March 20, 1998); however, they stated emphatically that the subcommittee only gives serious consideration to "add on" money for programs when they are urged to do so by Senators and Representatives on their committees.

Attached are rosters for both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on VA, HUD & Independent Agencies (EPA is an independent agency). All of these Senators and Representatives need to be contacted ASAP and urged to communicate with the committee staff about funding for the Partnership. Letters from other Senators and Representatives also have a major impact on decisions to fund projects and can carry great weight when "add on" decisions are being made.

The Senate and House Subcommittees will probably act on the appropriations during the week of June 15th. We urge you to write and or call your Senator or Representative as soon as possible. When calling Member offices, be sure to contact either your Member or the staff person who handles EPA appropriations. Included with this Alert are key message points that you may want to emphasize in your letters or during conversations with staff. The Senate and House have scheduled Memorial Day recess for May 25-June 1. This provides the perfect opportunity for you to contact your Member in your home district. Please refer to the Government Relations Directory distributed by AMSA at the beginning of the 105th Congress or go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and click on either the Senate or House directory for Member information.

We have successfully made the case for the value of our project and with your help we should be able to get the Committee to put in the money for a strong National Biosolids Partnership program next year. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Christy Kettell at the National Office (202/833-3692). Thank you!

Points to Emphasize When Contacting Senators and Representatives Regarding Biosolids Funding for 1999
  • Biosolids are the rich organic by-product of wastewater treatment and are heavily regulated under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Part 503 regulations.
  • Beneficial use programs, such as using biosolids as fertilizer or as landfill cover, have been derailed because of misinformation and public fears about the safety and quality of the product.
  • EPA’s regulations, combined with the success of local industrial pretreatment programs, have allowed many wastewater agencies to initiate biosolids beneficial use programs and to produce commercially available fertilizer products.
  • Biosolids recycling is an important component of wastewater treatment and a safe and viable management option.
  • The $1 million requested for the National Biosolids Partnership will support the development of a Code of Management Practices to provide information to local governments across the country to raise biosolids quality above the current conservative regulated levels. The Code will be developed with input from affected stakeholders, and provide for oversight from a third party to strengthen its validity in the public arena.
  • EPA has made $250,000 to the Partnership in 1998 to begin development of the Code. The additional $1 million is necessary to complete the document and ensure that all communities have the tools needed to implement successful biosolids recycling programs.

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD & Independent Agencies - Membership

Senator Christopher S. Bond, Chair (R-MO)
Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT)
Senator Richard C. Shelby (R-AL)
Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO)
Senator Larry Craig (R-ID)
Senator Barbara Mikulski, Ranking Member (D-MD)
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

House Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD & Independent Agencies - Membership
Congressman Jerry Lewis, Chair (R-CA)
Congressman Tom Delay (R-TX)
Congressman James Walsh (R-NY)
Congressman David Hobson (R-OH)
Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)
Congressman Mark Neumann (R-WI)
Congressman Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Congressman Louis Stokes, Ranking Member (D-OH)
Congressman Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Congresswoman Carrie Meek (D-FL)
Congresswoman David Price (D-NC)