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Where Are We Now?

Clean Water Advocacy in the New Political Landscape Webinar

May 24, 2017 | 2:00 - 3:30 PM ET

As we pass the 100-day mark of the new Trump Administration, NACWA continues to advance a robust clean water advocacy agenda with both the Administration and Congress.  But the reality is that on a whole host of issues, ranging from the budget to a potential infrastructure package to regulatory reform, there are still more questions than answers on how developments in these areas will unfold.  This uncertainty creates both opportunities and challenges -- now more than ever, the ability to listen effectively, adapt quickly, and work across party lines is critical.

Please join NACWA staff for this free webinar. We will discuss “where we are” in the political and advocacy landscape, share high-value information about the current priorities of the Administration and Congress, and identify potential areas of opportunity for your utility, your community and our Association.  Topics will include:

  • EPA Regulations, Staffing, Budget
  • NACWA’s Regulatory Improvement Initiative
  • Integrated Planning and Affordability
  • Infrastructure Funding
  • Water Quality Including Nutrients & TMDLs
  • Clean Water Rule/WOTUS

Staff will also provide brief tutorials on finding helpful information and resources on NACWA’s new website.  In addition, we will provide an overview of plans to “relaunch” the NACWA Engage Network and unveil a new Utility Executive Peer-to-Peer Network.

NACWA also wants to hear from you -- our members.  Participants will be able to submit questions via the webinar platform throughout the session, and time will be allocated at the end for Q&A.

Registration is complimentary for NACWA Members. Not a member? Contact Kelly Brocato for more information and registration options.

Be sure to join us for this informative event!


Nathan Gardner-Andrews


Nathan Gardner-Andrews

Chief Advocacy Officer
Chris Hornback_sized (2017)


Chris Hornback

Chief Technical Officer

emily


Emily J. Remmel

Director Regulatory Affairs

erica


Erica Spitzig

Deputy General Counsel

kristina

Kristina Surfus

Director, Legislative Affairs 
Amanda Waters (2016)

Amanda Waters

General Counsel

NACWA Staff Bios

Nathan Gardner-Andrews

Chief Advocacy Officer
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Washington, DC

Nathan Gardner-Andrews serves as the Chief Advocacy Officer (CAO) for the National
Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) in Washington, DC, where he has worked since 2006. In his role as CAO, he is responsible for coordinating all NACWA’s advocacy initiatives and integrating the Association’s legislative, regulatory, and legal advocacy work. He has written articles and spoken nationally on a wide range of clean water issues.

Mr. Gardner-Andrews previously served as NACWA’s General Counsel, advising the Association and its municipal clean water utility members on a variety of legal matters and managing NACWA’s litigation portfolio.

Prior to joining NACWA, Mr. Gardner-Andrews served as a law clerk for the Hon. Michael E. Loney of the Maryland Circuit Court.

Mr. Gardner-Andrews is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia bars. He received his BA from Columbia University in 2001 and his JD from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2005

Chris Hornback

Chief Technical Officer
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Washington, DC

Chris Hornback joined the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA; formerly the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies or AMSA) in April 2001 and is currently Chief Technical Officer, responsible for all the Association’s regulatory and technical initiatives and for formulating NACWA’s regulatory policy.  Mr. Hornback oversees the Association’s efforts related to water quality, biosolids, and utility management and manages NACWA’s regulatory affairs team.  Mr. Hornback coordinates the activities of six standing committees and workgroups and manages the Association’s Targeted Action Fund.

Prior to joining NACWA, Mr. Hornback worked as a Senior Associate with Booz/Allen/Hamilton, a multinational management consulting firm.  During his five years with Booz/Allen, Mr. Hornback specialized in the areas of hazardous waste management, solid waste management, underground storage tanks, risk management planning, and clean water issues.

Mr. Hornback has a BA in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia.

Emily J. Remmel

Director Regulatory Affairs
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Washington, DC

Emily Remmel serves as the Director of Regulatory Affairs for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) in Washington, DC, where she has worked since early 2017. In her role, Emily works on water quality, water reuse, and stormwater issues.

She earned a JD in environmental law and a certificate in water resources law from Vermont Law School and served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law. She also holds a BS and MS in zoology from the University of Oklahoma where she specialized in aquatic ecology and has numerous publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Prior to joining NACWA, Ms. Remmel was an environmental, health, and safety legal editor that helped small businesses comply with complex environmental laws and regulations such as underground and aboveground storage tanks, NPDES permitting, and stormwater. She also currently teaches water resources advocacy and introduction to water law, both online undergraduate courses at the University of Oklahoma.

Erica Spitzig

Deputy General Counsel
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Washington, DC

Erica Spitzig serves as Deputy General Counsel for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), where she works to advance NACWA’s legal advocacy on behalf of publicly owned stormwater and wastewater utilities nationwide.  Prior to joining NACWA, Erica worked as an attorney in private practice in Ohio, where she gained significant experience representing clients on municipal clean water legal and regulatory issues, including NPDES permitting and consent decree compliance. Erica also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio, where she litigated Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement matters. 

Erica received her JD from Georgetown University Law Center, and her BA in Political Science from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Kristina Surfus

Director, Legislative Affairs
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Washington, DC

Kristina Surfus is the Director of Legislative Affairs at the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), advancing federal legislative priorities on the Hill on behalf of the municipal wastewater and stormwater management community. Prior to joining NACWA in 2015, Ms. Surfus worked in the Office of Senator Tammy Baldwin and was National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Knauss policy fellow. She has also worked in planning and development consulting for communities around the Midwest. Ms. Surfus received an MS in Freshwater Science, Policy & Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and earned BA’s in Environmental Analysis & Policy and International Relations from Boston University.

Amanda Waters

General Counsel
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Washington, DC

Amanda Waters serves as General Counsel for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA).  In her role as General Counsel, Ms. Water manages NACWA’s litigation portfolio and implements the Association’s legal advocacy initiatives.

Ms. Waters was previously General Counsel & Director of Public Advocacy & Outreach for the Water Environment Federation, as well as Deputy Executive Director & General Counsel for Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky. 

She has also served as Deputy General Counsel for the State of Kentucky Environmental & Public Protection Cabinet and as a staff attorney with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

Ms. Waters received a law degree from Pace University and a BS in biology from Eastern Kentucky University.