Clean Water Current

The environmental and consumer advocacy organization, Food and Water Watch (FWW), filed a recent legal action calling into question the legality of water quality trading.

On Tuesday, March 7, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET, NACWA, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the WateReuse Association, the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF), and the Water Research Foundation (WRF) are hosting a no-cost webcast for attendees and anyone interested in attending the 2017 National Water Policy Fly-In in Washington, DC (March 21-22).

NACWA submitted two requests last week to EPA for extended comment deadlines on proposals impacting the municipal clean water community.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) held its first oversight hearing of the year on February 8, with a focus on “Modernizing our Nation’s Infrastructure.”

NACWA participated in the Utility Executives Committee meeting at the annual conference of the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) in New York City last week, connecting with one of the Association’s key regional partners and providing a national advocacy perspective to the discussion.

NACWA presented at the American Law Institute’s (ALI) 47th Annual Environmental Law Conference in Washington, DC on February 10.

In case you missed the most recent edition of Water Efficiency Magazine, NACWA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Cynthia Finley, was prominently featured for her work on one of NACWA’s signature issues.

NACWA is joining with the with the Water Environment Federation and other water sector groups on a special government affairs webcast to discuss key policy issues for the National Water Policy Fly-In.

NACWA’s members gathered in Tampa, FL this week to explore the intersection between the affordability challenges their communities face, and the continued drive to innovate and explore new approaches to address water quality.

A number of NACWA’s key committees met during this week’s Winter Conference in Tampa, FL. One of the more crucial topics discussed was the impact of the new Trump Administration and the new Congress on the municipal clean water community’s advocacy priorities, including opportunities for additional infrastructure funding and targeted regulatory improvements.

NACWA met with representatives from the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) last week to discuss affordability-related issues in the clean water sector, and provide input on a report that NAPA is developing on affordability challenges. NAPA is a congressionally-chartered non-partisan organization that helps public organizations improve their effectiveness.

More than 30 leaders from clean water utilities across EPA Region 4 gathered in Tampa, FL on February 6 to discuss challenges facing their utilities, provide input to NACWA’s national advocacy priorities and network with peers.

The first substantive hearings on infrastructure in the 115th Congress are getting underway. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee held a hearing February 1 to solicit testimony from business and labor groups regarding infrastructure investment.

Following the Association’s participation in an Infrastructure Roundtable organized by the Bipartisan Policy Center last November, NACWA is joining a broad infrastructure coalition being organized to help guide the coming debates around infrastructure investment and reform.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed litigation last week against EPA over the Administration’s withdrawal of the Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Category (“Dental Amalgam Rule”). The rule requires all dental offices that place or remove dental amalgam to install separators and follow two best management practices.

NACWA is excited to welcome Emily Remmel to the National Office team. Emily has an aquatic ecology background and a law degree from Vermont Law School.

President Trump and the Republican majorities in both the House and Senate have made clear that tax reform is a key priority this year, which could put municipal tax-exempt bonds at risk.

NACWA and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) staff met on January 22 to discuss DOE programs that are available to clean water agencies, and potential energy priorities for the sector under the new Administration. This is a key element of NACWA’s work on the Utility of the Future concept.

NACWA continued its active work on Capitol Hill last week, meeting with staff from key members of Congress and committees of jurisdiction that will impact the Association’s advocacy agenda. Several committees also held their organizational meetings and announced their leadership for the new Congress.

President Trump signed an Executive Order January 30, setting in motion his promise to repeal two regulations for every new regulation issued.