December 20, 2016

NACWA Scores Key Advocacy Win in Final Dental Amalgam Rule

EPA signed the final Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Category, also known as the Dental Amalgam Rule, on December 15, and NACWA is pleased that the final version had been significantly altered from the proposed version in order to address the Association’s main concerns. NACWA submitted extensive comments on the proposed rule in February 2015, explaining why the proposal created too much of a burden for publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) to regulate this category. Representatives from EPA and NACWA subsequently held several follow-up discussions about the comments, which resulted in a final version of the rule that significantly reflects NACWA’s input.

The rule requires all dental offices that place or remove dental amalgam to install separators and follow two best management practices. Dental offices must provide a one-time certification to their Control Authority documenting that they have installed a separator which meets the requirements of the rule, and that the offices operate and maintain the separator appropriately. Dental offices are not classified as “Categorical Industrial Users (CIUs)” or “Significant Industrial Users (SIUs)” unless specified by the local Control Authority. POTWs are responsible for collecting the certifications from dental offices, but have no responsibility to enforce compliance.

NACWA and its Pretreatment & Pollution Prevention Committee are still reviewing the rule, but initial analysis indicates that the rule will have a minimal burden on POTWs. This outcome is a huge success for NACWA’s advocacy team and for POTWs that submitted data and input for the Association’s comments. NACWA members with questions or comments about the rule should contact Cynthia FinleyThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

NACWA Delivers Trump Transition Letter while President-Elect Reportedly Defends Tax-Exempt Municipal Bonds, Plans Infrastructure Task Force

NACWA forwarded a letter on December 12 to members of President-elect Trump’s transition team, outlining critical priorities the Association believes the new Administration should focus on, and providing a number of policy recommendations. Among the top issues that NACWA highlighted in the letter were increasing funding for clean water infrastructure, addressing affordability and low income challenges, advancing responsible regulatory reform, and promoting water sector innovation. NACWA has also met with members of President-elect Trump’s transition team in recent days to discuss these ideas and recommendations in more detail. Additional information on the transition letter, along with NACWA’s 2017 political outlook, is available in Advocacy Alert 16-17.

In a related development, Trump has expressed support for maintaining tax-exempt municipal bonds during a December 15 meeting with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, according to news reports. The preservation of these bonds has been a central focus of NACWA’s advocacy with the incoming Trump administration as well. While it is a positive sign that the President-elect is committed to defending this important source of financing for local governments, there are still many in Congress who would like to eliminate these bonds. News reports also suggest that Trump is planning to assemble an infrastructure “task force” to guide work on infrastructure investment early in his administration, and NACWA will be closely following developments on this front as well.  NACWA is committed to remaining engaged and vigilant on this issue in the New Year, and recommends its members do the same.

District Court Affirms EPA's Cooperative Federalism Approach in Numeric Nutrient Criteria Case

In the case, Gulf Restoration Network v. EPA, the district court granted, on December 15, EPA’s Motion for Summary Judgment on remand from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The case involves EPA's response to a petition from activist organizations requesting that the Agency develop federal numeric nutrient criteria (NNC) for the Mississippi River Basin (MRB) and the northern Gulf of Mexico. Activist groups sued EPA in 2012 because EPA declined to make a necessity determination on the need for NNC. NACWA has been involved in the case since 2012, when it successfully intervened to protect the interests of its municipal clean water utility members and argued against the development of NNC. NACWA calls the court’s decision a victory for the clean water community and for cooperative federalism.

In 2013, the district court previously held that EPA must make a “yes” or “no” determination on such a petition, but the Fifth Circuit reversed that decision holding that EPA could decline to make a decision, as long as the Agency provides sufficient justification. The Fifth Circuit then remanded the case to the district court on the issue of whether EPA’s decision was justified. In its December 15 decision, the court essentially found that EPA’s denial of the plaintiff’s petition was sufficiently grounded in the CWA, following the guidelines provided by the Fifth Circuit, particularly in the context of the general cooperative federalism framework of the Act and Section 303 pertaining to water quality more specifically.

In its decision, the court explained that EPA’s justification of cooperation with the states was a sufficient reason to forego a formal decision in responding to the plaintiff’s request: “This Court is convinced that the denial, which again is grounded primarily on EPA’s assessment that working in partnership with the States to reduce nutrient pollution would be a more effective approach at present, is sufficiently ‘grounded in the statute.’”

EPA Proposes Great Lakes CSO Notification Requirements

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy signed the proposed Public Notification Requirements for Combined Sewer Overflows to the Great Lakes Basin on December 16, which includes requirements for signage, notification of local public health departments and other potentially affected public entities, notification of the public and annual reports. The Agency has proposed that notification of local health departments and the public must occur within four hours of the time the utility becomes aware of the overflow through monitoring, modeling, or other means. EPA was required under its Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 appropriations bill to develop these requirements, with implementation of the new requirements by December, 2017.

NACWA and its members with combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges into the Great Lakes have provided input to EPA on this rule via conference call, public hearing, and written comments. NACWA will work with its members to develop additional comments, which will be received by EPA for 60 days after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. NACWA members with questions or input should contact Cynthia FinleyThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

NACWA Reviewing Final EPA Test Methods Update Rule

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy signed the final Methods Update Rule, which revises the procedure for determining method detection limits, among other updates and revisions, on December 15.  NACWA filed comments on the proposed rule, as did several NACWA member agencies.  NACWA is presently reviewing the rule to evaluate whether its comments were addressed, after which it will provide more analysis.  A pre-publication copy of the final rule and factsheet are available on the EPA website, here.

Final ‘Technical’ Report on Flow Addresses Some Concerns, Questions Remain

EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released the final version of their report, Protecting Aquatic Life from Effects of Hydrologic Alteration, on December 15. NACWA filed detailed comments on the draft version of the document released earlier this year, which EPA and USGS described as a “technical report, outlining several concerns with the extensive policy and legal discussions about controlling flow under the Clean Water Act (CWA).”

In the final report, which NACWA is still reviewing, EPA has removed an appendix on legal issues, and has moved the discussion of CWA tools used to address flow from the body of the report to an appendix. These are positive changes, but NACWA will continue its analysis and let the membership know if NACWA’s more detailed comments were adequately addressed. The final report and associated materials are available on EPA’s website. Any members with questions can contact Chris HornbackThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

EPA Proposes Updated POTW Emissions Standards

EPA proposed updated National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) on December 8, and a pre-publication version of the rule is now available. NACWA’s Air Quality Workgroup held a conference call with EPA last year to discuss the Agency’s risk and technology review for the NESHAP. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to review its standards every eight years, but the Agency had not reviewed the POTW NESHAP since it was published in 1999. Because of a consent decree resulting from a lawsuit brought by the Sierra Club, EPA was required to publish the results of the risk and technology review this month and will finalize the rule by October, 2017.

EPA found that the residual risk was acceptable and did not propose any changes to reduce risk. EPA also identified pretreatment programs as a control practice for hazardous air pollutants (HAP), since limiting the concentration of HAP in wastewater will limit the potential for air emissions throughout the system. All the facilities subject to the standards already have pretreatment programs.

EPA will be hosting a webinar for the Air Quality Workgroup in January to walk through the proposal and answer questions about it. Comments on the proposal will be due 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. NACWA members who would like to participate in the webinar with EPA or contribute to NACWA’s comments on the proposal should contact Cynthia FinleyThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

EPA to Hold New Infrastructure Financing Clearinghouse Webinar

EPA will hold a conference call and webinar on January 5, 2017 to discuss the Water Finance Center’s plans for a Water Finance Clearinghouse.  The Clearinghouse will help communities make informed decisions for their drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needs.  If you are interested in learning more about this project and participating in the call, please contact Nathan Gardner-AndrewsThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Don’t Wait . . . Register today for NACWA’s 2017 Winter Conference, Next Generation Compliance . . . Where Affordability & Innovation Intersect, February 4 – 7, 2017, in Tampa, FL. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to engage your fellow clean water professionals, regulators, key stakeholders and thought leaders as we explore the balancing act among compliance, innovation and affordability. This year's Winter Conference is all about the fine line between maintaining affordable rates for all ratepayers—in the face of mounting regulatory requirements—while providing clean water services in a proactive, innovative, forward-looking way that will take your utility to the next level and beyond. We anticipate the rooms at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel will fill quickly – so make your reservations today. Reservations must be made by Friday, January 13, 2017 to receive the special conference rate of $229. Should you encounter any difficulties with your hotel reservations, please contact Tina KeniaThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . And don’t forget to register for the conference too!

  Difficulty choosing between NACWA’s Winter Conference and The AWWA/WEF Utility Management Conference? Problem solved! In 2017, NACWA’s Winter Conference and The AWWA/WEF Utility Management Conference are co-locating at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel! Join us for both NACWA’s Winter Conference, Next Generation Compliance . . . Where Affordability & Innovation Intersect, February 4 – 7 and The AWWA/WEF Utility Management Conference, February 7 – 10. Please note that separate registration and hotel reservations are required for each meeting.  We hope to see you there!

• Save the Date for Communications Bootcamp! In collaboration with the Value of Water Coalition, NACWA will host a Communications Bootcamp that will provide best practices for developing and implementing a strategic communications plan with a focus on earned and social media and crisis communications. This intensive 3-hour session will be held from 1:30-4:30 pm on Tuesday, February 7, during NACWA’s Winter Conference Next Generation Compliance …Where Affordability & Innovation Intersect, in Tampa, FL. Participants must RSVP for the Bootcamp when registering for the Winter Conference.
  
  
• Calling all NACWA Affiliates . . . Elevate clean water, showcase your firm's contributions and build strong relationships with utilities nationwide through year-long sponsorship of NACWA conferences and events.  We’ve enhanced our sponsorship offering for 2017 with an array of new benefits.  To receive maximum benefit from this unique opportunity, contact Paula DannenfeldtThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it today.
  
  
• Save the Date!  With a new format and new price point (registration is only $100), you won’t want to miss the 2017 National Water Policy Fly-In & Expo, March 21-22, in Washington, DC.  With a new Administration and a new Congress taking the reins of power, it is more important than ever that policy makers hear directly from YOU about the challenges facing your utility and your community.  The issues of infrastructure funding, affordability, and regulatory reform will be front and center early in 2017, and utilities nationwide must make their voices heard on these critical priorities. This collaborative offering from NACWA, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF), WateReuse, and the Water Research Foundation (WRF) will feature a Rally for Clean Water at the U.S. Capitol and the always popular Regulatory Roundtables with EPA program directors.  Together we can elevate water as a national priority – act now! Save the date and make plans to attend!