The Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA) released on December 14 a survey  indicating that most states are using Clean Water Act permits, best management practices, and pollution reduction plans to control nitrogen and phosphorus runoff. ACWA surveyed representatives of clean water programs for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, in late 2011 to mid-2012. The survey
questioned states about the nature and organization of their nutrient reduction efforts, the methods utilized to reduce nutrients, accountability measures implemented, funding sources, and states’ general thoughts on the challenges and opportunities raised by nutrient reduction. The survey responses were compiled into state-specific narrative summaries, at times supplemented by
publically available documents. The summaries were then reviewed and edited by the corresponding state contact before inclusion in this report. They present a birds-eye-view of the diverse ways in which states are addressing nutrient pollution.

Of the 37 states that indicated primary pollution sources were a focus of their reduction efforts (including states still developing a program and which indicated “no programs”), 89% focus on wastewater treatment plants, 86% on stormwater, 84% on farmland, and 62% focused on CAFOs/AFOs. Only a quarter of programs exempt certain activities or industries. Among the 26 states that
specified what indicators they used to assess and respond to nutrients, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, and phosphorus were the most common responses.  States were asked which nutrient reduction methods they used. Among the 44 states that responded, the most common nutrient reduction methods were TMDLs, NPDES permitting, BMPs, and nutrient management plans. Social media campaigns, water quality trading, nutrient reduction agreements, and interstate partnerships were the least used methods.

The results of this effort highlight that managing nutrient pollution requires unique and varied strategies. States were found to be using of a variety of tools, such as state-level effluent standards, technology requirements, Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), best management practices and nutrient trading. Together, with numeric nutrient criteria (NNC), these approaches represent a rich mosaic of solutions providing a variety of nutrient accountability frameworks. Furthermore, the survey found that approximately 55% of states have an existing nutrient program, while some 22% are in the process of developing one

An agreement  between DC Water, the District of Columbia and the EPA focusing on green infrastructure was announced this week.  The partnership, referred to as “Clean Rivers, Green District,” will enhance efforts to investigate the use of green infrastructure in the DC area, which may eventually reduce the reliance on gray infrastructure solutions planned by DC Water to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to the Potomac River by expanding and expediting a series of planned pilot green infrastructure projects (GI Project Plan) by DC Water.  The agreement calls for extensive monitoring and reporting on the efficacy of practices installed in the GI
Project Plan to be used in the future to meet CSO obligations under the current consent decree.  Also, the partnership document states that planning and design efforts will continue for a series of underground storage facilities, as outlined in the current long term control plan; however, it is recognized that the schedule for some of this work will have be amended in order to allow for the implementation and analysis of the GI Project Plan effort.  A unique aspect of the agreement is a planned Green Design Competition, which would engage the private sector and other interested parties to develop designs illustrating the performance capacity and pragmatic use of green
infrastructure practices in an ultra-urban environment.  Also, other groups, such as academic and NGO communities will be encouraged to be engaged in helping to design develop and review planned practices associated with the GI Project Plan.

As the President and Speaker Boehner wrangle over an agreement to avert the fiscal cliff, House and Senate Farm Bill leaders are still differing on any kind of Farm Bill package that might be added to an end-of-year agreement.  The likelihood of an agreement including a Farm Bill are slim, but unless Congress passes some kind of Farm legislation to either extend the current law or a larger reauthorization law, additional cuts and price increases to farm programs and supports will take effect on Jan. 1 which will directly impact farmers and consumers.  For instance, under an expired support program on Jan. 1 the government will be required to purchase dairy products at twice the cost of current prices, which is expected to increase consumer prices at the supermarket.

One option is for Congress to pass a short-term extension, but House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Frank R. Lucas (R-OK) said on Dec. 18 he has not made a decision about a farm bill extension.  Chairman Lucas has already scheduled a Committee markup of a full Farm Bill on Feb. 27, 2013, which may suggest that he places slim hopes of getting a full Farm Bill done in 2012.  Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) continues to call for authorization of a full five year bill and has expressed little interest in an extension.

EPA announced in the December 18 Federal Register proposed numeric water quality criteria to protect ecological systems, aquatic life, and human health from nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in estuaries and coastal waters within the State of Florida not covered by EPA-approved State rulemaking, and south Florida inland flowing waters. These proposed criteria apply to Florida waters that are designated as Class I, Class II, or Class III waters and they are intended to protect these designated uses as well as implement for the purposes of the Clean Water Act the State's narrative nutrient provision at Subsection 62-302.530(47)(b), Florida Administrative Code, which provides that ``[i]n no case shall nutrient concentrations of a body of water be altered so as to cause an imbalance in natural populations of aquatic flora or fauna.'' Comments must be received on or before February 19, 2013.

“We conclude that the need to control nutrients is a highly site specific matter that is not well-suited to being carried out
through a uniform national rule; that not all POTWs nationwide need minimum technology based limits for nutrients to protect water quality; and that many POTWs would incur high costs individually.” 

Michael Shapiro, EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water (Statement following EPA formally rejecting a petition from the NRDC to update national secondary treatment standards for wastewater utilities to include nitrogen and phosphorus removal)

NOTE: TWIW will be on hiatus on December 29 in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays. TWIW will resume on January 4, 2013. Best wishes from the Government Affairs staff for a safe and joyous holiday season!! 

This Week in Washingtonis provided by the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, VA and is available online.  To receive by e-mail, please contact the Editor - Sam Hadeed - at shadeed@wef.org  or call 703.684.2418 with questions.

On Dec 13, Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) announced legislation to provide tax relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy in FEMA designated areas of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island.  The Hurricane Sandy Tax Relief Act of 2012will complement the federal government’s recovery efforts by providing tax relief to businesses, individuals and municipalities. The tax-relief bill provides for Hurricane Sandy Bonds which are created by new state-by-state private activity bond (PAB)allocations, including $9.2 billion each for New York and New Jersey, issued for the purpose of financing the rebuilding of docks and wharfs, commuting facilities, certain housing, water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure, and facilities used to provide electric energy or gas.

A coalition of eight water organizations, including WEF, sent a December 6 letter to the House and Senate Leadershipurging them to resolve the pending fiscal cliff to prevent devastating cuts to key clean water and drinking water programs under the Budget Control Act.  The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) estimates sequester cuts to non-exempt nondefense discretionary funding by 8.2%. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy and the discussions taking place on Capitol Hill regarding infrastructure resiliency, the coalition stated that this would be a uniquely unwise time to allow cuts targeted to ensure much-needed upgrades to our Nation’s ailing and aging water infrastructure. The letter stated that the 8.2% cuts for water programs in FY 2013 would result in cuts to the following water programs: 

• $120 million reduction in the clean water SRF, to $1.35 billion; 
• $75 million cut in the drinking water SRF, to $843 million; 
• $20 million cut in Clean Water Act Section 106 water pollution control grants, to $219 million; 
• $13.5 million reduction in Clean Water Act Section 319 nonpoint source management programs, to $151 million; and 
• $8.6 million reduction in public water supply system grants, to $96.7 million. 

The letter also pointed to several studies that investments in water and wastewater infrastructure provide substantial economic benefits to communities.  For example, the U.S. Conference of Mayors reports that each public dollar invested in water infrastructure increases private long-term gross domestic product (GDP) output by $6.35. The National Association of Utility Contractors estimates that $1 billion invested in water and wastewater infrastructure can create over 26,000 jobs. Further, the Department of Commerce estimates that each job created in the local water and wastewater industry creates 3.68 jobs in the national economy and each public dollar spent yields $2.62 dollars in economic output in other industries. 

On Dec. 11, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) announced that she and other Senate Democrats will be forming a new caucus for the 113th Congress that will push for climate change legislation in the Senate.  Reports indicate that Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Bernard Sanders (I-VT) have expressed interest in joining the caucus.  The focus of the caucus will be to move a climate change bill after the last attempts by the Senate to pass a bill failed in 2009.  “There is a tremendous appetite on our side to do that,” Boxer said. “I think you are going to see a lot of bills on climate change.”

On Dec. 12 the Senate Democratic Steering Committee announced new and returning committee assignments for the next session of Congress.  With a net increase of 2 additional Democratic Senators in the 113th Congress, the ratio of Democrats to Republicans on committees didn’t change much or at all on most committees. The Environment & Public Works Committee did not add or lose any members.  The Appropriations Committee added three new Senators (by replacing two recent retirees), one of whom is Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), whom recently introduced S. 3626, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2012. 

In a Nov.9 letter, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) urges EPA to deny environmentalists' long-pending petition to add mandatory nutrient controls to its secondary treatment regulations.  NACWA believes that adding such nutrient requirements are neither most cost-effective nor environmentally sensitive way to address the Nation’s nutrient challenges”. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and other environmental groups are suing EPA in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York charging that officials have delayed responding to their 2007 petition seeking to revise secondary treatment rules for POTWs. 

NACWA indicates that "EPA may feel the need to publish updated information on the current effectiveness of secondary treatment technology," and EPA may do that "while at the same time using its discretion and expertise not to alter the existing generally applicable secondary treatment limitations."  NACWA believes EPA has full discretion to either deny the petition entirely or to grant only the request for the agency to publish data on the state of secondary treatment technology, while not updating the secondary treatment rules.  In its letter, NACWA references WEF’s 2010 Technical Submission to EPA: Removal of Nutrients with Currently Available Secondary Treatment Technologieswhich included a review of the references used by NRDC et al. in its petition.  This WEF report noted that many of the studies used by NRDC were based on treatment plants already achieving nitrification, and thus facing less costs to meet nutrient controls than plants just meeting basic secondary treatment requirements.  WEF used its report to provide technical information to EPA and did not take a position on NRDC’s petition. 

EPA has indicated that it intends to respond to the NRDC et al. petition before the end of 2012. 

EPA has released its2012 National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change. The document describes how EPA’s water-related programs plan to address the impacts of climate change. It describes their long-term visions, goals and strategic actions for the management of sustainable water resources for future generations in five key areas: infrastructure, watersheds and wetlands, coastal and ocean waters, water quality, and working with Tribes. It also includes EPA's goals and strategic actions in 10 geographic climate regions.  The 2012 Strategy emphasizes working collaboratively with partners and stakeholders, developing information and tools, incorporating adaptation into core programs, and managing risks of impacts including from extreme weather events. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners and stakeholders to build our nation's resilience to the impacts of climate change.  

During a December 13 Water Utility Stakeholder Brownbag [periodic informal meeting with Water associations and senior EPA Water managers], Deborah Nagle, Director of the  Water Permits Division noted that EPA headquarters during their just-completed national meeting  with their Regional Water Division Directors had focused on how best to implement the integrated planning and permitting approach, particularly at the State level.  This will now be followed up by periodic calls with EPA Regions and States on how EPA Headquarters can help them advance integrated planning.  EPA is also working to finish a complete set of questions/answers on the integrated planning approach to help with implementation.  These Q/A’s will build on the draft set that EPA discussed at WEFTEC 2012 and other recent meetings.  This complete set of Q/A’s will be released early in the New Year. 

Nutrient pollution is one of the nation's most widespread and costly environmental problems. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from farm and lawn fertilizer, pet and livestock waste, roads and houses, faulty septic systems, and treated sewage can turn waters green with slime and pollute waters for swimming, boating, and fishing. To help raise awareness about this growing environmental problem, EPA has released a short video to illustrate the potential impacts of nutrient pollution on recreation. The Choice is Yours: Clean or Green Water video can be viewed on EPA'sYouTube Channel. The new video complements another EPA YouTube video, that provides a broad overview of nutrient pollution. Both videos are available in broadcast quality upon request.  If interested, please contact: scott.patricia@epa.gov. 

EPA has approved the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) rules establishing numeric limits on nutrient pollution [excess nitrogen and phosphorus] allowed in statewide springs, lakes, streams and some estuaries. Following a review of the state’s adopted rules and supporting documents, EPA determined they are consistent with the requirements of the Clean Water Act and applicable federal regulations.

EPA determined that FDEP’s new method of deriving numeric nutrient limits is technically and scientifically sound, and more effective and efficient than the previous narrative approach. The numeric limits for nitrogen and phosphorus in springs, lakes and streams (outside South Florida) are virtually identical to those in EPA’s 2010 rule.

Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), states are primarily responsible for protecting water quality including setting water quality standards. However, in accordance with a 2009 consent decree with the Florida Wildlife Federation—and because the state’s rules do not cover certain waters—EPA is also proposing two federal nutrient rules: 1) numeric limits on nutrients in Florida’s estuaries and coastal waters, as well as streams in South Florida, which were
not addressed in Florida’s rules; and 2) clarifications on some provisions in the 2010 rule EPA promulgated establishing numeric nutrient limits on Florida’s inland waters. These provisions were remanded to EPA for further action by the District Court.

EPA is soliciting public comments on its proposed rules and will host public information sessions in Tampa on January 17-18, 2013, along with web-based public hearings on January 22-24, 2013. While EPA must finalize the remanded portions of Florida’s inland waters rule by August 31, 2013 and the coastal waters rule by September 30, 2013, the Agency is prepared to withdraw its federal rules for any waters that become covered by state law that meets the requirements of the Clean Water Act. Florida recently adopted nutrient rules for Panhandle estuaries, and EPA expects FDEP will soon submit the new rules for EPA's formal review and approval under the Clean Water Act.

For more information about EPA’s approval of the FDEP rules, click here.

On December 3, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in an Oregon logging road pollution case that has been litigated since 2006. The court agreed to review the 9th Circuit Court’s decision to consider stormwater runoff channeled from logging roads as a point source requiring a Clean Water Act permit.  Several Supreme Court justices expressed some frustration about a new rule issued on November 30 by EPA clarifying that polluted runoff from logging roads should not be considered a "point source" under the Clean Water Act and is therefore exempt from regulatory requirements. Chief Justice John Roberts said the justices were “surprised” by EPA's 11th-hour rule change. The justices then proceeded to discuss whether they should even consider the case in light of EPA’s rule. If the case is found to be mooted by the recent rule issued by EPA, there is concern that ambiguity in the law will remain.  Additionally, the attorney representing the logging industry stated that a ruling by the high court could provide legal clarity for future litigation. The Supreme Court should indicate soon if it plans to decide the case on its merits. For more information, click here.

On November 15, Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) of the Environment & Public Works Committee held a hearing to introduce a draft Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that includes a WIFIA pilot program. The biennial WRDA bills typically only authorize Army Corps of Engineers projects, but Senator Boxer included a section (Title X, page 112) that would create a WIFIA pilot program that allows the EPA and Corps to provide loans and loan guarantees for a variety of water infrastructure projects. Eligible projects include CWSRF projects, DWSRF projects, desalination projects, energy efficiency improvements, real property acquisition for wastewater projects, and repair and replacement of aging water distribution facilities. The bill allows for 10 pilot projects, each costing $20 million or more, and authorizes Congress to appropriate $50 million a year for 2013 – 2017 to provide direct loans and loan guarantees through the US Treasury.

WEF, the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) sent a joint letter to Chairwoman Boxer and Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-OK) praising them for including a WIFIA pilot program in the WRDA bill. The group will be meeting with the staff of the Environment & Public Works Committee in the near future to discuss specifics of the provision and to provide recommendations for strengthening it.

Additionally, on November 13, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2012 (S. 3626), that will provide loans and loan guarantees to water, wastewater, and stormwater projects that have a minimum cost of $20 million. The bill encourages the selection of projects that incorporate environmentally sustainable approaches, such as green infrastructure, energy efficiency, conservation, reuse, source water protection, and “other innovative techniques.” The bill also includes a prevailing wage (“Davis-Bacon”) requirement for projects funded with WIFIA money. There is also a requirement to use American-made iron, steel, and
manufactured goods on WIFIA projects, unless a waiver is granted by the EPA. WEF has had conversations with Sen. Merkley’s staff about these provisions and several other areas of concern that were dropped from draft versions of the bill. WEF sent a November 15 letter of support  for championing WIFIA and introducing a bill in the Senate.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, several proposals have surfaced to provide federal funding to help rebuild water infrastructure, including wastewater treatment facilities damaged during the late October storm.  In a December 6 speech, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), accompanied by former Vice President and climate advocate Al Gore (D), said he was taking action to better prepare his city for extreme weather events.  Governors Andrew Cuomo (D-NY), Chris Christie (R-NJ), and Dannel Malloy (D-CT) included water infrastructure repairs in their request for federal storm recovery assistance, and at a December5 Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, several Senators from East Coast states, including Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) called for infrastructure reconstruction and climate mitigation aid as part of Sandy relief.  There is sympathy in Congress for this funding, as noted by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who chairs the Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee and knows firsthand about the costs of rebuilding after a large storm.  Congressional leaders and the White House, however, are concerned about a backlash if additional new spending is approved at the same time “fiscal cliff” cuts could be taking effect.  Press reports say President Obama will request between $45-55 billion in Sandy assistance, well short of the $82 billion called for by Cuomo, Christie and Malloy.  Cuomo’s estimates $42 billion is needed for New York alone, including over $9 billion for infrastructure improvements. Congress may approve a limited emergency relief bill before adjournment but put off a bigger package of Sandy assistance until next year.

As the final phase of the EPA's development of a study on the "Importance of Water to the US Economy," on Dec. 4th the EPA's Office of Water hosted a half-day symposium at American University to present a summary of the study findings and hear a series of panels with stakeholders from key sectors of the economy that rely heavily upon water as a commodity.  During the symposium, Acting Assistant Administrator for the EPA Office of Water Nancy Stoner presented some of the key findings of the study, which were developed by the EPA from expert papers submitted earlier this year and a technical workshop held in September 2012, in which WEF Executive Director Jeff Eger participated.

The panelsat the symposium focused on the economic importance of water to infrastructure and technology; agriculture, food and beverage production; recreation, tourism and development; energy, and a presentation about efforts to encourage water sustainability practices reporting by companies.  The infrastructure and technology panel included Executive Vice President of Veolia Laurent Auguste, DC Water General Manager George Hawkins, and President & CEO of Xylem, Inc. Gretchen McClain, who encouraged attendees to visit their Value of Water website which has been recently updated with new survey data.

Acting Assistant Administrator Stoner stated that the Office of Water will be incorporating any additional information from the symposium into the final study and will be releasing it to the public prior to the end of this year.  Given WEF's similar focus on Water for Jobs and Water's Worth It, WEF is supportive of this EPA effort and looks forward to EPA's synthesis report. WEF staff participated in this symposium.

“Nutrient pollution threatens human health and the environment, hurts businesses, costs jobs, reduces property values and otherwise impacts the quality of life for all Floridians.  “Clean water is vital for Florida and EPA commends FDEP for taking this significant step [establishing numeric nutrient criteria] towards protecting and restoring water quality across the state.” 

EPA Region 4 Administrator Gwen Keyes Fleming 

This Week in Washingtonis provided by the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, VA and is available online.  To receive by e-mail, please contact the Editor - Sam Hadeed - at shadeed@wef.org  or call 703.684.2418 with questions.

Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee will reintroduce a draft Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that includes a WIFIA pilot program in the 113^th Congress, which is anticipated to be essentially the same as the bill that was recently introduced in the lame duck session. The biennial WRDA bills typically only authorize Army Corps of Engineers projects, but Senator Boxer included a section (Title X, page 112) that would create a Water Infrastructure Financing Act (WIFIA) pilot program that allows the EPA and Corps to provide loans and loan guarantees for a variety of water infrastructure projects.  Eligible projects include CWSRF projects, DWSRF projects, desalination projects, energy efficiency improvements, real property acquisition for wastewater projects, and repair and replacement of aging water distribution facilities.  The bill allows for 10 pilot projects, each costing $20 million or more, and authorizes Congress to appropriate $50 million a year for 2013 – 2017 to provide direct loans and loan guarantees through the US Treasury.  WEF, AWWA and AMWA recently met with the Committee staff to discuss the WIFIA language in the bill and is in the process of providing recommendations for changes and improvements to the language.

On November 27, WEF, the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), and Danfoss hosted a workshop with a broad representation of energy and water experts from federal agencies, local government, non-governmental organizations, finance, and industry.  The recommendations developed at the workshop will be presented at the Energy & Water 2013: Integrated Solutions for Advancing Technology and Management conference WEF is hosting in Nashville on May 6 – 9, 2013. The workshop was organized following the release at WEFTEC 2012 of the WEF Energy Roadmap and conversations between EPA Office of Water Assistant Administrator Nancy Stoner and attendees about the need for further coordination and support from all stakeholders to integrate energy resource recovery technology at wastewater treatment facilities and other energy-water efficiency technologies and
practices.

The workshop heard presentations about federal policy and agency efforts to promote resource recovery and energy efficiency from Ms. Ellen Gillinsky, EPA Office of Water, and Dr. Holmes Hummel, US Dept. of Energy.  Presentations on technology implementation and advancements were given by Elena Bailey, Ovivo Water, and John Master, Danfoss. Thad Wilson, M3 Capital Partners, and Greg Miller, Johnson Controls,
gave presentations about financing mechanism for funding projects.  A sizable number of senior staff from federal agencies participated, including staffers from EPA, Energy, USDA, and the Bureau of Reclamation.  Also attending was a senior staff member from the House Water Resources Subcommittee, and representatives from a variety of engineering and consulting firms that specialize in energy resource recovery from wastewater treatment.

After the presentations, the remainder of the day was spent in plenary and small group discussions. The workshop first identified challenges/potentials in increasing the integration of resource recovery and energy efficiency technologies.  The group then developed strategies and action items to address those challenges/potentials. The next step will be for the workshop facilitators to compile recommendations from the workshop and share them with the attendees and the broader public.

A total of approximately 800 attendees participated in back-to-back workshops focusing on water quality trading held on November 28-29.  The workshops, which were hosted in Washington, D.C. at the headquarters of the World Resources Institute (WRI) and co-sponsored by EPA, WRI and WEF, were available online at no charge. The focus of the first day of the two-day event, hosted by EPA, was on the needs and perspectives of potential buyers and sellers, as well as the stakeholders they interact with.  Representatives from the POTW, agriculture, technology, and finance sectors presented information on various aspects of water quality trading.  Also, statements in support of trading were made by U.S. EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, Nancy Stoner, EPA senior policy advisor, Ellen Gillinsky, and Patrick Holmes, special assistant to the undersecretary for natural resources at the Agriculture Department.  Day 2 of the event dug into technical aspects of trading, such as local water quality issues and the development of baselines as well as ensuring additionally in market frameworks.  Researchers, regulators and practitioners in trading discussed these topics, as well as the emerging role of stormwater and MS4 in trading programs.  Both days were recorded and will be posted at the event website, along with PDF versions of presentations made at the two-day event. 

On November 30, Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) and Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), along with WEF and the Northeast Midwest Institute, held a briefing on new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) findings about
the impactsof urban development on streams and their aquatic life.  This information points to priorities and strategies that can protect and restore urban streams for drinking water, recreation, and aesthetic pleasure. 
This briefing was held in cooperation with the USGS Office of Water Quality and its National Water-Quality Assessment Program and was free and open to the public.

The USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program recently released the results of a study  that was done to better understand the effects of urban development on streams and aquatic life in different regions of the country.  At the briefing, USGS described differences observed in nine metropolitan areas; the reasons for these differences and the implications for stream protection and restoration. USGS also described a new innovative tool that can assist decision makers at all levels of government to evaluate how improvements to one or more stream conditions can increase the likelihood of reaching stream goals. Speakers with
experience in protecting and restoring streams in developing suburban areas and as well as highly urbanized areas described their challenges and successes. 

EPA announced in the November 29Federal Register that it has recommended new recreational water quality criteria for states that will help protect peoples’ health during visits to beaches and waters year round. These new criteria replace criteria established in 1986.  The science-based criteria set out measures to protect against gastrointestinal illnesses from fecal contamination.  They provide information to help states improve public health protection by addressing a broader range of illness symptoms, better accounting for pollution after heavy rainfall, providing more protective  recommendations for coastal waters, encouraging early alerts to beachgoers and promoting rapid water testing. The criteria are a tool that states can use in setting their own standards; and, States may adopt the criteria directly or use their own scientifically defensible numbers that provide equal protection. The criteria provide states and communities with the most up to date science and information that they can use to determine whether water quality is safe for the public and when to issue an advisory or a beach closure. EPA made the announcement pursuant to an order from a U.S. District Court and as required by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000.

The strengthened recommendations include:

• A short-term and long-term measure of bacteria levels that are to be used together to ensure that water quality is properly evaluated
• Stronger recommendations for coastal water quality so public health is protected similarly in both coastal and fresh waters
• A new rapid testing method that states can use to determine if water quality is safe within hours of water samples being taken
• An early-alert approach for states to use to quickly issue swimming advisories for the public and
• Tools that allow states to predict water quality problems and identify sources of pollution, as well as to develop criteria for specific beaches.

For more information, click here 

Effective planning is essential for utilities to sustainably manage their operations and ensure that water infrastructure investments are cost-effective over their life-cycle, resource efficient, and support other relevant community sustainability goals. In February, 2012, U.S. EPA issued Planning for Sustainability: A Handbook for Water and Wastewater Utilities. Developed with extensive input from utility managers and states, the Handbook describes a series of core elements and steps utilities can take to build sustainability considerations into their existing planning processes. The webcast will be held on December 13 from 2:00-3:30 pm EST and is the third in a series of no charge webcasts built around the core elements of the Handbook. This webcast will focus on how utilities can build sustainability considerations into alternatives analysis as they evaluate and select investments. Attendees will hear about how utilities in Beaverton, OR and Carrboro, NC have addressed sustainability in their analysis of alternatives. To register, click here. For more information, contact Jim Horne at (202) 564-0571 or horne.james@epa.gov.

With President Obama’s reelection and the Senate and the House remaining Democratic and Republican, respectively, attention is now focused on the Lame Duck Congressional session that will commence the week of November 12 but probably won’t get down to business until after Thanksgiving.   This session may run through the end of December before the 112th Congress adjourns.   As widely reported, this session will be consumed with addressing the Federal budget and the impending “fiscal cliff.” 

Specifically, unless current law is amended, all of the Bush tax cuts will expire at the end of the year, as will various other temporary tax provisions (e.g., Alternative Minimum Tax [AMT] relief for middle class Americans, extension of estate tax relief, etc.)  Decisions will need to be made whether to extend, replace, or allow to lapse the two percentage point payroll tax cut. Finally, $109 billion in across-the-board spending cuts (“sequestration”) mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 will begin to kick in on January 2. Half of the automatic spending cuts will hit the Pentagon, while the other half will reduce spending by the rest of the government, with most agencies, including EPA, facing funding cuts of 8.2%. Thus, the Federal Government will fall off a “fiscal cliff” unless the President and the Congress agree to amend current law. There is already speculation by some congressional leaders that no comprehensive agreement on all of these matters will be reached before Dec. 31, but a framework for an agreement will be in place and Congress will pass a 4 – 6 month extension to buy more time to hammer out a final agreement.

While other legislative measures could be considered during this Lame Duck session, we assume that until these fundamental budget issues are addressed, no real substantive legislative work will occur and that other issues, including environmental/water concerns, will basically be pushed forward into the 113th Congress. There is a high likelihood that Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) will introduce a WIFIA bill, which WEF has had the opportunity to review and comment on.  Additionally, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is rumored to be planning to introduce a Water Resources Development Act during the lame-duck session.  and a hearing has been scheduled for November 15. The draft legislation has been released to the public and it includes a WIFIA pilot program that WEF is currently reviewing.  Passage of both bills during the lame-duck session is highly unlikely. 

 

As typically occurs when a President gets reelected, many agency heads step down so new leadership can guide the agency for the next four years.  Several Cabinet Secretaries have already stated they will be retiring, including State Department Secretary Hillary Clinton and Treasury Department Secretary Timothy Geithner. 

There has been speculation that EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson may be considering stepping down at some point in the future, but not immediately.  To be clear, these are purely rumors and not attributable to any official or off-the-record comments from EPA.  If Administrator Jackson decides to leave government, the two names being mentioned as possible replacements are Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board and Bob Perciasepe, Deputy Administrator of EPA.  Nichols was the runner-up when Jackson was appointed, but it’s unclear if she’s interested now.  Bob Perciasepe is well known and respected in Washington, having served in top positions in EPA during the Clinton Administration. Within the EPA Office of Water, Ken Kopocis’ nomination as Assistant Administrator has been held up in the Senate due to disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over the confirmation of federal judges.  Most speculation is that he will be re-nominated, but this has not been confirmed.

Within the Department of Interior and the United States Geological Service, Secretary Ken Salazar is expected to remain in the post for a while longer but not a full second Obama term, and USGS Director Marcia McNutt, who has served since October 2009, will likely remain in the post for at least another year. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and other key officials in the Conservation and Natural Resources Programs at USDA are also expected to remain in their posts for the near future. No indication about White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley.

EPA announced in the October 31 Federal Register that it plans to review Clean Water Act regulations on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) to determine whether the rules should be retained, amended, or withdrawn if they significantly affect small businesses. The Federal Register notice indicates that EPA would review the 2012 regulation, which clarifies that only those CAFO that discharge are required to obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. EPA now wants to know whether the 2012 rule will affect small businesses. It is asking and encouraging small businesses to provide comments on the need to change these rules, and in particular, how the rules could be clearer or more effective, or if there is need to remove conflicting or overlapping requirements with other federal or state regulations.

Comments on the review are due by December 31. As part of this review, EPA will consider and solicit comments on the following factors:

• The continued need for the CAFO rules;
• the nature of complaints or comments received concerning the rules;
• the complexity of the rules;
• the extent to which the rules overlap, duplicate, or conflict with other Federal, State, or local government rules; and,
• the degree to which the technology, economic conditions or other factors have changed in areas affected by the rules.

A September 2012 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report concludes that with the U.S. demand for water and energy projected to rise in coming decades, the Department of Energy and other federal agencies need to better coordinate policies related to energy and water.  The report is the most recent in a series of GAO reports examining the nexus between energy and water.  The report looks at the vast amounts of water used by the U.S. in energy production, from cooling thermoelectric power plants to the growth of feedstocks for biofuel production to oil and gas extraction.  It also examines how water and energy are inextricably linked in the treatment of drinking water and wastewater.  The GAO report noted several factors likely to affect future supply and demand for both energy and water, including climate change, population growth, and demographic shifts. 

This report on climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability in coastal areas of the U.S. indicates that coping with sea level rise and coastal disruption will be a challenge for coastal economies. It also states that impacts on coastal systems are among the most costly and most certain consequences of a warming climate, and as average sea level rises, coastal and low-lying areas will be inundated more frequently, if not permanently, by the advancing sea.  Led by the U.S. Geological Survey and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with input from several federal agencies including EPA, the report was submitted to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, an interagency initiative that coordinates research on climate change in the federal government.  This report is part of a large body of information that is being distilled into a single assessment report that will be submitted by the U.S. Global Climate Research Program to Congress and the President in late 2013.  The draft of the National Climate Assessment will be released for public comment in December 2012 or early January 2013. 

WEF staff and volunteers have been working to help with coordination of equipment needs and also to identify options for solids management for affected systems in northern New Jersey.  On November 2, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson contacted WEF Executive Director Jeff Eger and requested help in identifying individuals and agencies that might be able to provide technical and operational assistance to water utilities impacted by Hurricane Sandy. As widely reported, communities in New Jersey, New York, and other mid-Atlantic and Northeast states have suffered significant damage and interruption of service. WEF staff and volunteers have been working to help with coordination of equipment needs and also to identify options for solids management for affected systems in northern New Jersey. Over the past weekend, WEF staff and volunteers tapped into WEF’s member network to examine options including identifying treatment plants that could receive solids and potential mobile dewatering systems. The response from members and utilities has been immediate with members responding and participating in conference calls and outreach over the weekend.

Damage assessments are ongoing and additional needs may be identified. WEF will be reaching out to its membership as more needs are identified.  In addition to the request to WEF from EPA, the Pennsylvania WEA has responded to a request from NJDEP and reached out to its membership to identify facilities able to receive solids or raw wastewater to provide capacity while systems affected by the Hurricane are repaired.  For example, residents and businesses in the 48 North Jersey cities and towns served by the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission wastewater treatment system were strongly encouraged to minimize water use to reduce stress on the storm-damaged sewage treatment system and help limit partially treated effluent flowing into Newark and New York Harbor. The PVSC, which serves 1.4 million customers in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties, is working closely with the state Department of Environmental Protection, federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair damage caused by severe flooding and power outages that has limited the level of treatment of the 240 million gallons a day of wastewater that normally flows through this facility.

Assistance requests also are being identified through the Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN), which was established to coordinate assistance within the water utility sector during emergencies. The WARN website identifies likely assistance needs and also includes state-by-state updates about Hurricane Sandy impacts and needs throughout the impact area. The Nov. 2 edition of This Week in Washington includes a digest of Sandy-related news coverage.

EPA has launched a website on Hurricane Sandy Response and Recovery. To find information on the latest EPA updates and for answers to frequent questions on flooding, mold, and drinking water, click here. EPA continues to assist the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) in the Hurricane Sandy Response to help ensure the protection of public health and the environment.  For more environmental information related to the hurricane, contact EPA's hotline: 1-888-283-7626.  To visit the FEMA website, click here.  In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, WEF commends the efforts of all the heroes working to save lives and property and restore the infrastructure system, including power, transportation, and water and wastewater service. Please support their efforts and help hurricane victims by contributing to the American Red Cross or visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency to see what you can do.

EPA is conducting a study on the Importance of Water to the U.S. economy to better understand how water contributes to the economic welfare of the nation and plays a critical role in many sectors of the U.S. economy. On December 4, EPA and American University will host a public symposium in Washington, D.C. with speakers that represent a diverse array of industries including agriculture, food and beverage production, manufacturing, recreation, tourism and fishing. EPA will also release a draft report on the importance of water to the U.S. economy. To register to attend the symposium, click here.

Additionally, EPA held a workshop on September 19, in Washington, D.C. to present the findings from background papers and to engage a diverse mix of analysts and decision-makers from different regions and sectors of the economy in a discussion. Topics included challenges that private and public sector decision-makers face in managing and using water resources, methods and tools analysts use to generate information to support decision-making, and gaps in information that would improve management and use of water resources. Click here for materials from the workshop. For more information, contact John Powers (powers.john@epa.gov or 202-564-5776).

EPA is seeking applicants for $1.5 million in environmental justice small grants to be awarded in 2013.  The grants enable non-profit organizations to conduct research, provide education, and develop solutions to local health and environmental issues in communities overburdened by harmful pollution.  Ranking criteria include how the affected community may be disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and risks/climate change.  Grants are available for up to $30,000 each.  The application period will close on January 7, 2013.  Applicants must be incorporated non-profits, federally recognized tribal governments, or tribal organizations working to educate, empower and enable their communities to understand and address local environmental and public health issues.  EPA will host four pre-application teleconference calls to help applicants understand the requirements.  For more information, click here.

EPA has released the Containment and Disposal of Large Amounts of Contaminated Water: A Support Guide for Water Utilities. The guide serves as a reference document for the preparation and response to a contamination event when rapid decision making is needed. It provides recommendations primarily to drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utilities following an all-hazard chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) contamination event. Secondary users of the guide are decision makers involved with planning and disposal at the federal, state, local and tribal levels. Click here for the guide.

EPA announced in the November 9 Federal Register that it is soliciting public involvement in identifying relevant data and scientific literature specific to inform EPA's research study on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. While EPA conducts a thorough literature search, there may be studies or other primary technical sources that are not available through the open literature. EPA would appreciate receiving information from the public to help inform current and future research and ensure a robust record of scientific information. In response to public concern, the U.S. Congress urged EPA to conduct scientific research to examine the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources. EPA is undertaking a study to understand the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, if any, and to identify the driving factors that may affect the severity and frequency of such impacts.

The scope of the study includes the full hydraulic fracturing water lifecycle--from water acquisition, through the mixing of chemicals and injection of fracturing fluids, to the post-fracturing stage, including the management of flowback and produced water and its ultimate treatment and disposal. The study will include a review of the published literature, analysis of existing data, scenario evaluation and modeling, laboratory studies and case studies. EPA will accept data and literature in response to this request until April 30, 2013.

WEF and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will join together once again to present a united voice for the water sector on Capitol Hill by presenting the third annual WEF-AWWA “Water Matters” Fly-In. Scheduled for Wednesday, April 17th and Thursday, April 18th 2013 in Arlington, VA, with Congressional meetings to be held on Capitol Hill, this event will bring delegations of water professionals from every state to Washington to meet directly with their Congressional representatives.  Last year over 160 WEF and AWWA members participated in the Fly-In.  Registration instructions and other information will be available online soon after the November 8 election.  Go to www.wef.org/governmentaffairs. 

Hotel Information:  A block of rooms has been reserved at the Arlington Hilton, located at 950 North Stafford Street, Arlington, VA., for Fly-In participants. At the beginning of the New Year, you may reach the Arlington Hilton at (703) 528-6000 to reserve a room.  Should you have further questions, please contact Nick Bardis at WEF, telephone (703) 684-2400 x7731, e-mail nbardis@wef.org.  

“Voters sent a message in the election, namely that leaders in both parties should put aside partisan interests and work with common purpose to solve problems for the American people. We need to find bipartisan solutions to reduce the deficit in a balanced way, cut taxes for middle-class families and small businesses and create jobs.” 

• President Barak Obama (Statement  following reelection to second term to Senate and House leadership) 

This Week in Washingtonis provided by the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, VA and is available on-line.  To receive by e-mail, please contact the Editor - Sam Hadeed - at shadeed@wef.org or call 703.684.2418 with questions.

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, WEF Executive Director, Jeff Eger, issued a video commending the efforts of all the heroes working to save lives and property and restore the infrastructure system, including power, transportation, and water and wastewater service. To view the video, click here.

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the importance of water and sanitation services has received much media coverage, but one area that has been lacking is recognition of the men and women who work before, during, and after the storm to keep things running and restore services as soon as possible. WE&T wants to share your photos, videos, and stories of water and wastewater crews maintaining and restoring service during Hurricane Sandy. We’re hoping to collect as many photos and videos as possible showing water and wastewater utility crews in action. To find out how to participate, click here.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that New York's infrastructure wasn't up to Hurricane Sandy.  What happened in New York was not all that different than what's happened in other places hit by freakish weather events -- the infrastructure wasn't robust enough to withstand nature. The problems in New York stem from many factors. For a start, infrastructure investment here is no more a priority than it is in other places across the country: It's simply not something that voters want badly. When given a choice between investing in schools, health and housing or investing in sewers, tunnels or roads, the latter will always lose out. Consider the case of London, a city whose infrastructure is -- in almost every respect -- even older than New York's. Yet over the last 25 years, London has grabbed one opportunity after another to bring its core infrastructure -- power, transport and water -- into the 21st century. In almost every aspect, the city's infrastructure is today more resilient than ours.  Full Story 

While final damage estimates are not available, it’s clear that Hurricane Sandy will leave a costly aftermath—power lines, substations, roads, bridges, coastlines: they will all have to be repaired, restored, and rehabilitated. Water utilities will not be dodging any bullet. If Hurricane Irene is any indication, there will be pipes a plenty that will need mending and replacing. As reported in a study, “Impact of Hurricanes and Flooding on Buried Infrastructure,” the impacts of large-scale disasters such as major hurricanes can be quite apparent after the event, but the effects on buried infrastructure are less apparent at the time of the disaster and can have long-term effects on the buried systems. Full Story 

Big storms and hurricanes are becoming more frequent and more severe. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo commented in a press conference October 30 that “we have a 100-year flood every two years now.” These mega-storms not only cause death and destruction in coastal communities, they cause a ripple effect of public safety, health, and economic consequences including flooding, power outages, sewage spills, drinking water advisories, crippled transportation systems, and…rats. A report by American Rivers, “Natural Defenses: Safeguarding Communities from Floods” offers solutions that help protect public safety by working with nature. The report calls for renewed investment in protecting the nation’s natural defenses – our wetlands, rivers and floodplains – because it’s the most reliable, cost-effective, and flexible path toward helping communities stay safe.

Another report, “Banking on Green: How Green Infrastructure Can Save Municipalities Money and Provide Economic Benefits Community-wide,” published by American Rivers, the Water Environment Federation, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and ECONorthwest, examines how green infrastructure can lower flood damage and costs. While these “green infrastructure” approaches won’t altogether replace traditional engineering and “gray infrastructure” like flood walls, levees and dams, they should be part of the backbone of our water management strategy and integrated with those traditional approaches. Full Story 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, spending by governments on public infrastructure repairs might actually provide a welcome boost to the economy, but we shouldn't need a damaging storm to make that happen. There is already plenty of pressing infrastructure projects that governments could fund which would improve the economic situation. A quick mobilization of resources to complete necessary repairs could temporarily boost employment and improve business for companies producing and selling construction materials. There would also be additional multiplier effects of this spending on the economy, as workers and business owners spend their increased wages and profits. Speeding up other infrastructure repair projects would also put people back to work. For example, many cities have aging water systems that experience regular costly water main breaks. These projects don't need costly studies or lengthy environmental impact reports and could be implemented almost immediately. Buy materials, dig up the streets, replace the pipes, repair the streets and pay your workers. They are truly shovel ready projects in need of funding. Full Story 

As New York, New Jersey and the rest of the Northeast U.S. come to grips with Hurricane Sandy’s impact, some leaders are realizing that two debilitating hurricanes in as many years there are a sign that infrastructure needs rethought, not just rebuilt. Postmortem assessments of Sandy’s effects should include a “fundamental rethinking of our built environment,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday during a press conference.  “The challenge is not just to build back but to build back better than before.” Full Story 

As the East Coast slowly begins to dry out after Hurricane Sandy, some academics are warning that floods may become the norm.  The National Research Council has published a report calling on the Army Corps of Engineers to change the way it manages 14,000 miles of levees, 700 dams, and many more water structures. It calls on Congress and the White House to act, too. Full Story 

Superstorm Sandy was a stark reminder of how vulnerable U.S. cities are and how infrastructure is being taken for granted, according to this piece. Sandy "illustrate[s] just how critical infrastructure is to a metropolitan area's economy," said Robert Puentes, director of infrastructure policy program at the Brookings Institution. "Hopefully, it will spur some action, not necessarily just in terms of huge federal outlays, but in deciding what the infrastructure needs are for a 21st century economy, and what is needed to withstand the kinds of storms we're seeing."  Full Story  

A Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) is a network of utilities helping other utilities to respond to and recover from emergencies. The purpose of a WARN is to provide a method whereby water/wastewater utilities that have sustained or anticipate damages from natural or human-caused incidents can provide and receive emergency aid and assistance in the form of personnel, equipment, materials, and other associated services as necessary from other water/wastewater utilities.

2012 NOV 01- Sandy Update 4
2012 OCT 31 - Sandy Update 3
2012 OCT 30 - Sandy Update 2
2012 OCT 29 - Sandy Update 1 

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) and Energy and Power Subcommittee Ranking Member Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) sent a letter to Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton and Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield requesting a hearing during the lame duck session on Hurricane Sandy, extreme weather events, and climate change. The letter states: “Hurricane Sandy is the type of extreme weather event that climate scientists have said will become more common if we fail to reduce our carbon pollution. That is why we are writing to request that you hold a hearing on the storm and its relation to climate change in the lame duck session.”

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, WEF commends the efforts of all the heroes working to save lives and property and restore the infrastructure system, including power, transportation, and water and wastewater service. Please support their efforts and help hurricane victims by contributing to the American Red Cross or visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency to see what you can do. Read more...  

"I don't know how practical it is to put gates on PATH tubes and subway tunnels. What is clear is that the storms we've experienced in the last year or so around this country and around the world are much more severe than before. Whether that's global warming or what, I don't know, but we'll have to address those issues." 

• NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg (Press conference statement addressing Hurricane Sandy’s impact on New York City)

This Week in Washingtonis provided by the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, VA and is available on-line.  To receive by e-mail, please contact the Editor - Sam Hadeed - at shadeed@wef.org or call 703.684.2418 with questions.

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) has prepared “Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act” (WIFIA) legislation and, according to his staff, intends to introduce it in the Senate during the upcoming lame-duck session of Congress.  WEF, AWWA, and AMWA have been advocating for WIFIA legislation in the House and Senate and are pleased to see that Senator Merkley supports the funding mechanism as another tool to help address funding needs for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.  WEF, AWWA, and AMWA recently met with Sen. Merkley’s staff to review his draft legislation and WEF has provided several recommended changes that would improve the bill for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure financing.  The draft legislation is similar to a draft bill that Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH) has prepared in the House. The WIFIA funding mechanism is similar to the highly successful Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) that through $9.8 billion in federally backed loans and loan guarantees has generated over $38 billion in total investment in transportation infrastructure projects across the nation.  Under both Sen. Merkley’s and Rep. Gibb’s draft bills, drinking water and wastewater projects costing over $20 million for which SRF funding is not available will have access to direct loans and loan guarantees through the US Treasury.  Due to the many other legislative matters Congress must resolve before the end of the year, any WIFIA legislation introduced is not expected to become law during the lame-duck session.

WEF staff were invited to participate in an Integrated Planning workshop sponsored by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)and Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA) on October 24 in Washington, DC.  This workshop included States and localities from EPA’s Region III along with key EPA managers from both Headquarters [Deborah Nagle and Mark Pollins] and EPA Region III [Jon Capacasa].  Following an overview of EPA’s integrated planning and permitting framework and State perspectives, various cities/utilities presented their current thinking and concerns on pursuing an integrated planning approach.  Howard Neukrug, Philadelphia Water Commissioner, noted that Philadelphia was already pursuing an integrated green city initiative when the EPA framework was developed and has adapted their program to encompass integrated planning.  Baltimore has drafted an integrated planning approach as part of their 5 year C.I.P. and will soon begin formal review with Maryland DEQ and EPA Region III.  Other localities in Region III, such as Richmond and Harrisburg, are considering integrated planning.  While all workshop participants applauded EPA for developing the framework and providing localities much-needed flexibility for integrated planning/permitting, there remain practical questions on how best to proceed.  Of particular concern to States is having adequate staff resources required to oversee and review local integrated plans and permits, requiring cross-cutting expertise and ability to go beyond traditional program “silos.”  All committed to keep working to foster implementation of the framework.  NACWA and ACWA are considering sponsoring similar workshops in other EPA Regions. WEF will continue its efforts to ensure that the flexibility afforded by the framework is available to all communities regardless of size or location and provide education and training to our members on integrated planning.

A new consumer survey conducted by GE (Schenectady, NY) indicates that two-thirds of Americans feel positive about water reuse. The survey of 3000 consumers in the U.S., China, and Singapore found that Americans certainly support “toilet to turf.” The survey also reports that Americans also think that industry and government should play a stronger role in making water reuse a priority. The survey found that 44% of people would pay up to 12% more right now to ensure that future generations would be less vulnerable to water shortages. The report notes this as a significant finding, considering that 36 U.S. states face water shortages in the coming year, and by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population—or 5.3 billion people—will be vulnerable to water shortages.

Following the release of the survey, GE convened a panel of water leaders to discuss the issues surrounding water reuse. Panelists included Jeff Eger, WEF executive director of (Alexandria, Va.); Ben Grumbles, president of the U.S. Water Alliance (Washington, D.C.) and former EPA assistant administrator for Water; Stan Dean, district engineer for the Sacramento (Calif.) Regional County Sanitation District; and Jon Freedman, Global Government Relations Leader for GE Water & Process Technologies. Betsy Otto, director of the Markets and Enterprise Program for the World Resources Institute (Washington, D.C.) moderated the panel. For a more in-depth look at the results of the survey, visit the GE Power & Water’s water and process technologies website 

As part of its Retrospective Review Plan under Executive Order 13563 and the third Six-Year Review under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA will hold its third meeting to discuss LT2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule on November 15, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm EST. The purpose of the LT2 rule is to reduce illness linked with the contaminant Cryptosporidium and other disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water. The rule will supplement existing regulations by targeting additional Cryptosporidium treatment requirements to higher risk systems. This rule also contains provisions to reduce risks from uncovered finished water reservoirs and to ensure that systems maintain microbial protection when they take steps to decrease the formation of disinfection byproducts that result from chemical water treatment.  The meeting will be held in Washington, D.C. and participation via teleconference is available. Registration information can be found by clicking here. 

On October 17, the BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition of 14 of the nation’s largest unions and environmental groups, released a policy paper - Clean Water, Good Jobs: BlueGreen Alliance Joint Policy on Water Issues - emphasizing the need and benefits of water infrastructure investment. The report recommends immediate investment in the nation's infrastructure, adding that every $1 billion invested in water infrastructure creates between 20,000 and 26,700 jobs. The report also indicates that water protection, infrastructure, and efficiency investments offer significant opportunities to create good jobs that strengthen our economy and our communities, safeguard human health, and protect our environment. The report proposes policy and regulatory approaches to maximize investment to fully realize these opportunities:

• Restore the protections of the Clean Water Act (CWA);
• Defend environmental regulations;
• Fully fund clean water and water conservation programs;
• Fully fund State Revolving Funds;
• Create a national registry of water main breaks;
• Better address energy-water collisions.

WEF continues to add national partners to the Water for Jobs Campaign. Current partners include: American Public Works Association, American Water, American Water Works Association, CH2M Hill, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Association of Water Companies, United Water, Veolia Water, and Xylem. WEF was able to capitalize on the significant outreach opportunities for the campaign at numerous committee meetings and other venues. Use of social media was a big part of this message; and, through October 12 over 61,000 “impressions” (tweet hits) have been transmitted using our recommended hashtags. In preparation for the 2nd Presidential Debate on October 16, WEF Executive Director Jeff Eger recorded a video posted on the You Tube and CNN web sites urging the candidates to address water infrastructure. The campaign website is updated daily.

According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report - Rural Water Infrastructure – Additional Coordination Can Help Avoid Potentially Duplicative Application Requirements - released on October 16, funding for rural water and wastewater infrastructure is fragmented across two federal programs administered by EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leading to program overlap and possible duplication of effort when communities apply for funding from these programs. The two federal water and wastewater infrastructure programs—EPA’s Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Water and Waste Disposal program—have, in part, an overlapping purpose to fund projects in rural communities with populations of 10,000 or less. For the 54 projects GAO reviewed in the five states (CO, MT, PA, NC, and SD) it visited, this overlap did not result in duplicate funding.  However, GAO identified the potential for communities to complete duplicate funding applications and related documents when applying for funding from both agencies. In particular, some communities have to prepare preliminary engineering reports and environmental analyses for each program.

GAO recommends that EPA and USDA complete guidelines to help states develop uniform preliminary engineering reports, develop guidelines to help states develop uniform environmental analyses, and reemphasize the importance of state-level coordination. EPA neither agreed nor disagreed with GAO’s first two recommendations and concurred with the third. USDA neither agreed nor disagreed with the recommendations.

EPA announced on October 10 that it is providing up to $3 million in research grants for projects that will study the benefits of green techniques in controlling stormwater pollution in Philadelphia. The funds will help advance the city’s landmark Green City, Clean Waters plan. EPA’s “Science to Achieve Results” (STAR) program will fund major research projects focusing on key aspects of green infrastructure in a 40,500-acre area of the city experiencing frequent sewer system overflows.

In April 2012, EPA signed a partnership agreement with the city to support the Green City, Clean Waters plan to control stormwater. EPA will fund research projects of up to $1 million each to examine the performance and effectiveness of green stormwater infrastructure in Philadelphia. The research will focus on such items as:

• Measuring early benefits, long-term effectiveness and economic viability of green infrastructure;
• Evaluating alternative financing mechanisms;
• Quantifying benefits to neighborhoods and communities;
• Developing strategies for successfully adopting green infrastructure.

More information on the Request for Applications for “Performance and Effectiveness of Green Infrastructure Stormwater Management Approaches in the Urban Context: A Philadelphia Case Study,” can be found by clicking here.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced this week the launch of $1 billion in statewide projects to improve water quality and fix outdated infrastructure including wastewater treatment plants and sewers. Quinn projects the initiative will create about 28,500 jobs in the state. According to state officials, the money will be distributed through low-interest and long-term loans to local governments and come from a state program backed by federal money and no new state money will be used for the projects. State environmental officials indicated that more than 350 local governments have expressed interest in improving their water systems. To be a part of the program, they’ll have to send applications to the Illinois EPA.

On October 15, Jeff Eger, WEF Executive Director, represented WEF at a press event at the National Press Club to mark the 40^th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, originally enacted on October 18, 1972. Three Washington, DC-area utility leaders (Karen Pallansch, George Hawkins, and Jerry Johnson) talked about the impact of the law on their careers and their communities. Alex Dunn, from the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA), Ken Kirk from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), Ellen Gilinsky from EPA, and Carlton Haywood from the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) also participated all stressing the importance of this landmark legislation to improving the quality of our nation’s waters.   As part of this event, WEF, NACWA, and ACWA partnered to develop and issue a 2020 Vision for the Future of Clean Water.  The press release and 2020 Vision can be viewed by clicking here.  To view the You Tube Video of the event, click here. As previously reported in TWIW, WEF is also marking the CWA 40^th anniversary with an open-access special section in the October issue of WE&T.

EPA announced on October 18 that it has launched a new app and website to help people find information on the condition of thousands of lakes, rivers and streams across the United States from their smart phone, tablet or desktop computer. The How’s My Waterway appand website uses GPS technology or a user-entered zip code or city name to provide information about the quality of local water bodies. The release of the app and website helps mark the 40^th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which Congress enacted on October 18, 1972, giving citizens a special role in caring for the nation’s water resources. Forty years later, EPA is providing citizens with a technology-based tool to expand that stewardship.

How It Works:

• SEARCH:Go to the website and allow GPS-technology to identify the nearest streams, rivers or lakes or enter a zip code or city name.
• RESULTS:Instantly receive a list of waterways within five miles of the search location. Each waterway is identified as unpolluted, polluted or unas­sessed. A map option offers the user a view of the search area with the results color-coded by assessment status.
• DISCOVER:Once a specific lake, river or stream is selected, the How’s My Waterway app and website provides information on the type of pollution reported for that waterway and what has been done by EPA and the states to reduce it. Additional reports and technical information are available for many waterways. Read simple descriptions of each type of water pollutant, including pollutant type, likely sources and potential health risks.
• MORE:Related links page connects users to popular water information on beaches, drinking water and fish and wildlife habitat based on a user’s search criteria.
  
   

EPA announced in the October 18 Federal Register that it is inviting nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for a three-year appointment to the National Drinking Water Advisory Council. The 15 member Council was established by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to provide practical and independent advice, consultation and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the activities, functions, policies, and regulations required by the SDWA. This notice solicits nominations to fill four new vacancies through December 15, 2015. To maintain the representation required by statute, nominees will be selected to represent: State and local agencies (two vacancies) and the general public (two vacancies). Nominations should be submitted on or before November 19, 2012.

EPA is hosting a no charge webinar on October 30 from 1:00-2:30 pm EDT to learn how to access Veterans Affairs programs to hire and train veterans for your water or wastewater utility. The audiences for this webcast are water sector professionals, water and wastewater utility managers and HR departments. To register, click here.

The National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) is hosting a no charge webcast October 31 from 2:00 – 3:45 pm EDT on Biosolids 101 – Fundamentals of Practice. The webcast introduces attendees to the regulatory, legal and scientific basis of the Part 503 biosolids rule. The webcast describes the current regulatory compliance aspects of biosolids recycling through land application including the monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. This webcast provides attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the historical development and current regulatory compliance requirements of the 40 CFR Part 503 Subpart B (Biosolids Land Application) Rule. Participation this webcast will help attendees navigate through the monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements associated with the biosolids land application rule. Professional Development Hours (1.75) will be available for attendance. Click Here to Register.  For more information, click here.

“America’s lakes, streams and rivers are national treasures. Communities and neighborhoods across the U.S. want to know that their local lakes, rivers and streams are healthy and safe to enjoy with their families. This new app provides easy, user-friendly access to the health of a waterway, whether it is safe for swimming and fishing, and what is being done about any reported problems. People can get this information whether researching at a desktop or standing streamside looking at a smart phone.” 

• Nancy Stoner, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water (Statement following release of new app and website to check health of waterways anywhere in the U.S.) 

This Week in Washingtonis provided by the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, VA and is available on-line.  To receive by e-mail, please contact the Editor - Sam Hadeed - at shadeed@wef.org or call 703.684.2418 with questions.

Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), the leading Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, recently highlighted that the 2011 deficit reduction act would result in $196 million in cuts to wastewater and drinking water infrastructure funds in fiscal year 2013, affecting at least 75 repair and rehabilitation projects and costing as many as 5,000 jobs.  Rep. Dicks cited these figures in a letter to all members of Congress to illustrate the impact of an 8.2 percent cut in nondefense, discretionary spending for the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies.  The mandatory cuts, known as sequestration, will take effect January 2, 2013. These cuts would affect the remaining nine months of FY 2013 unless Congress intervenes in the lame-duck session following presidential elections on November 6.  Under the Budget Control Act of 2011 (Pub. L. No. 112-25), Dicks said the clean water state revolving fund program and the drinking water state revolving fund will receive $2.192 billion in FY 2013, a $196 million cut from the FY 2012 level of $2.388 billion, owing to sequestration. The state revolving funds enable states to make low-interest loans to municipalities to fund water infrastructure projects.

EPA announced on October 4, e-NEPA, a new online system that allows federal agencies to submit environmental impact statements (EISs) electronically. Traditionally, EISs have been submitted to EPA in hard copy. e-NEPA eliminates the need to mail or deliver copies of EISs to EPA headquarters, reducing printing, shipping, and delivery costs. It also saves time through electronic filing and e-confirmation and improves transparency, allowing EPA to post EIS documents to EPA’s website. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to integrate environmental considerations into their decision-making processes by identifying the environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to their proposed actions. To meet NEPA requirements federal agencies prepare detailed analyses known as EISs. EPA reviews, provides comments, and maintains a national filing system for EISs. Beginning on October 1, 2012, all agencies are required to use the e-NEPA filing system.

EPA announced on October 2 that Peter Grevatt, director of EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection, will become the new director of the agency's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) that sets emerging policy for addressing hydraulic fracturing and carbon sequestration, as well as crafting long-stalled drinking water limits. Grevatt will replace former OGWDW Director Cynthia Dougherty, who retired in March 2012; Pamela Barr has served as acting director of the office since the end of March. Administrator Lisa Jackson selected Grevatt to lead the children's office and to serve as her advisor on the top priority issue in 2009, citing his roles addressing environmental justice, risk assessment and hazardous waste cleanup issues. Grevatt has also held management positions in EPA's Superfund office and in Region II. Grevatt is expected to play a central role in the water office's efforts to craft a public health goal for perchlorate in drinking water.

According to an October 10 report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), EPA could better prevent water pollution from industrial sources by focusing more on treatment technologies during its regular review of effluent guidelines. GAO was asked to examine (1) the process EPA follows to screen and review industrial categories potentially needing new or revised guidelines and the results of that process from 2003 through 2010; (2) limitations to this process, if any, that could hinder EPA’s effectiveness in advancing the goals of the Clean Water Act; and (3) EPA’s actions to address any such limitations. GAO analyzed the results of EPA’s screening and review process from 2003 through 2010, surveyed state officials, and interviewed EPA officials and experts to obtain their views on EPA’s process and its results. To improve the effectiveness of EPA's efforts to update or develop new effluent guidelines, GAO recommended that the EPA Administrator should direct the effluent guidelines program to identify and evaluate additional sources of data on the hazards posed by the discharges from industrial categories as it considers revisions to its screening and review process.

EPA has released a set of water reuse guidelines during WEFTEC 2012 to help states develop and implement water reuse regulations and serve as a reference on water reuse practices. 2012 Guidelines for Water Reuse summarizes existing U.S. regulations and details water reuse practices outside the United States, including 100 global case studies. Information on planning for future water reuse systems, indirect potable reuse and industrial reuse, and disinfection and treatment technologies is also provided.  These guidelines were developed by EPA in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the consulting and engineering firm CDM Smith, based in Cambridge, Mass. The guidelines were released September 29, 2012, at the Water Environment Federation Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference in New Orleans.  CD copies of the guidelines were made available to WEFTEC attendees.  The guidelines may now be downloaded by clicking here.

On October 23, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT, EPA's Watershed Academy will host a webinar for water quality managers and others to learn about the new Water Quality Portal for water quality data.The portal brings together chemical, physical and microbiological data from EPA's Storage and Retrieval Data Warehouse and U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Water Information System for scientists, policy-makers, and the public in a single, user-friendly web interface, while reducing the burden of searching, compiling, and formatting water monitoring data for analysis. EPA's Water Quality Exchange, a web-based data entry tool that enables data owners to upload their data so the public has access to the data through the new water quality portal, is also highlighted.  Webcast participants can expect informational presentations, a demonstration of the portal in action, and are eligible to receive a certificate for their attendance.  Access the portal here. Click here to register for this free webinar. 

On November 8, from 1:00 to 2:30 pm EST, EPA will host a webcast to explore the connections between Effective Utility Management and Lean tools. Lean methods combined with the effective utility management framework have enabled water and wastewater utilities to save millions of dollars, avoid customer rate increases, improve product quality, enhance customer service, reduce energy costs and environmental pollution, and improve employee morale. The webcast will feature a brief overview of effective utility management, Lean and how to get started. The webcast will also feature two presentations from Clean Water Services and City of Pompano Beach Utilities Department, highlighting their successes using effective utility management in concert with Lean methods. Webinar slides will be posted here. Click here to register for this free webcast. For more information, contact Jim Horne at (202) 564-0571 or horne.james@epa.gov.

EPA's National Estuary Program (NEP), a place-based program to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance, has released a first-ever interactive map, NEPmap, with more than a decade's worth of NEP habitat data. A simple static map with contained descriptions of NEP habitat protection and yearly restoration projects has been replaced with a large set of data layers to enable viewing of NEP habitat information in a wider environmental context. The NEPmap allows users to view water quality conditions in their estuary and surrounding watershed alongside NEP habitat projects. NEPmap users can also generate and print maps and reports, change map scales, turn on and off background layers and interact with information points to provide a greater level of detail than a traditional static map. Click here for more information. 

A total of 17,452 water professionals and 980 exhibiting companies from around the world attended WEFTEC 2012 during WEF’s 85^th Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference—last week in New Orleans, LA.  WEFTEC offered attendees their choice of more than 1,000 presentations in 148 technical sessions, 24 workshops, seven local facility tours, as well as several high profile events. Key sessions and workshops featured in-depth topics such as boosting biogas to energy, utility funding and financing strategies, trenchless rehabilitation technology, water reuse planning, wet weather treatment, and green infrastructure.

Of particular interest was the high-powered water leaders session “Rethinking Water Services: Navigating Our Water’s Future,” which featured an opening keynote address by U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson (above photo). Following Jackson’s address, a panel of leaders in the water community’s academic, technology, and public service sectors shared their perspectives on current and future challenges faced by the water industry and how best to meet them. Facilitated by WEF Executive Director Jeff Eger, the panel included George Hawkins (DC Water), Jeff Sterba (American Water Works Company, Inc.), Gretchen McClain (Xylem, Inc.), and Kala Vairavamoorthy (University of South Florida’s Patel School of Global Sustainability).

Another highlight was the Utility Executives Forum, which picked up the subject about a 20-year vision for the future role of water utilities in communities from the “Rethinking Water Services” session.  A facilitated discussion considered in practical terms how the water sector can revolutionize thinking and adopt new ideas and innovations more broadly and consistently, resulting in better and sustainable service at lower costs.  Panelists included George Hawkins (DC Water), Tony Parrott and David St. Pierre (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago), and Karen Pallansch (Alexandria Renew Enterprises). To read more, click here.

The WEFTEC Daily is now available online where you can get the news and see the photos from WEFTEC® 2012, held September 29-October 3 in New Orleans. Visit www.weftec.org/daily to see the publication that covered all the action at the world’s largest annual water quality event.

WEF’s House of Delegates confirmed the members of its 2012-2013 Board of Trustees during WEFTEC® 2012 last week in New Orleans, LA. During a ceremony on October 2, the WEF “gavel of leadership” was passed from President Matt Bond (Kansas City, MO) to incoming President Cordell Samuels, plant superintendent for the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in the Regional Municipality of Durham in Ontario, Canada. President Samuels will work over the coming months to implement the organization’s new strategic initiatives, emphasizing leadership and innovative water management. In addition to President Samuels, the 2012-2013 Board of Trustees includes: President-Elect Sandra Ralston (Charleston, SC), Vice President Ed McCormick (Oakland, CA.), Treasurer Rick Warner (Reno, NV), Immediate Past President Bond, Secretary and Executive Director Jeff Eger (Alexandria, VA), Trustees Charles Bott (Hampton Roads, VA), Fran Burlingham (Walnut Creek, CA), Kartik Chandran (New York, NY), Scott Cummings (Auburn, AL), Ralph Exton (Trevose, PA), John Hart (Saco, ME), Garry Macdonald (Auckland, New Zealand), George Martin (Greenwood, SC), Karen Pallansch (Alexandria, VA), and Scott Trotter (Saint Charles, IL).

WEF proudly announces that the 2011 and 2010 reigning champions, Terminal Velocity from the Virginia Water Environment Association, once again took top honors during yesterday’s Operations Challenge competition—held as part of WEFTEC® 2012, WEF’s 85th Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference, which is taking place this week at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center.  Coached by Elijah Smith and Bobby Williams, the Terminal Velocity team of Steve Motley, Steve Poe, Jason Truitt, and Captain Donnie Cagle competed against 36 teams from across the United States and Canada during the fast-paced, two-day event.  Read more  The full Operations Challenge competition results include:

 

Division 1  

First Place: Terminal Velocity 
Virginia Water Environment Association
Cities of Franklin and Virginia Beach, Va. 

Second Place: Liquid Force 
Water Environment Association of South Carolina
Mount Pleasant Waterworks, Mount Pleasant, S.C. 

Third Place: TRA CReWSers 
Water Environment Association of Texas
Trinity River Authority, Dallas, Texas 

Division 2  

First Place: ReWa Blackwater Bruisers 
Water Environment Association of South Carolina
Renewable Water Resources, Greenville, S.C. 

Second Place: OCWA Jets 
Water Environment Association of Ontario
Ontario Clean Water Agency, Toronto, Ontario 

Third Place: Aqua Techs 
Water Environment Association of Texas
City of Dallas, Texas 

“I challenge us all to focus on smarter approaches to managing water and look to drive innovation in our priority areas, including nutrient removal and recovery, energy recovery, and stormwater management. This will require us not just to communicate more and to think bigger but to show how we are ready to adopt new approaches that can provide even better and more sustainable services.” 

• Cordell Samuels, WEF President

This Week in Washingtonis provided by the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, VA and is available on-line.  To receive by e-mail, please contact the Editor - Sam Hadeed - at shadeed@wef.org or call 703.684.2418 with questions.