This Week in Washington is a weekly publication of the Water Environment Federation’s Government Affairs department. It provides updates on the latest legislative and regulatory developments that affect the water and wastewater communities.

Provided by the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, VA

Senate Committee Approves Increase in Clean Water SRF

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved funding increases for the Clean Water SRF of $1.1 billion for FY06, the same level of funding the program received this fiscal year.  Though this level is below the $1.35 billion that clean water advocates and the National Governor’s Association have urged (see attached letter), the $1.1 billion is $250 million above the House approved level of $850 million and $370 million above the Administration’s request of $730 million.  Interior Subcommittee Chairman Conrad Burns stated “given the tremendous need in this country for effective wastewater treatment and the environmental and public health benefits that we derive from having up-to-date treatment” he could not justify following the cuts proposed to the program by the House or the Administration.  The Chairman was able to identify additional money for the program by reducing the amount of money available for specific earmark projects requested by his Senate colleagues.  The Senate bill also contains $850 million for the Drinking Water SRF which follows the House number.  The bill now must be passed by the full Senate and reconciled with the House version. (PS)

House FY06 Agriculture Appropriations Bill Increases Some Conservation Programs

The House passed its FY06 Agriculture Appropriations Bill and provided increased funding for several conservation programs that are administered by the USDA.  The Environmental Quality Incentives Program would be increased by $40 million by reducing funding for other programs such as the Conservation Security Program (by $13 million to $245 million) and the Farmland Protection Program (by $10 million to $73.5 million).  The bill would fund the watershed rehabilitation program at $47 million, rather than eliminating funding for the program as the Administration requested. The Senate considers its Agriculture spending bill June 21. (PS) 

Director of the U.S. Geological Survey Resigns

Secretary Gale Norton announced the resignation of Dr. Charles Groat as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey effective June 17, 2005 and will resume his academic career at the University of Texas.  The Secretary’s press release did not indicate reasons for Dr. Groat’s departure, though the Agency has recently come under scrutiny for its analysis of the risks to ground water sources posed by nuclear waste disposal at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.  In her announcement, Secretary Norton praised Dr. Groat’s contributions to USGS and “its contributions to science excellence and leadership” under Groat’s stewardship.  Dr. Groat served as USGS director since November 1998.  Dr. Groat plans to accept appointments as Jackson Chair in Energy and Mineral Resources in the School of Geosciences and the founding Director of the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Texas at Austin.  (PS) 

Clean Water Trust Fund Discussed at House Hearing

The House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee’s June 8 hearing focused on testimony by Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) member organizations and others regarding a dedicated trust fund for clean water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Congressional Budget Office, the General Accounting Office and WIN all agree that the nation faces a national water infrastructure funding gap in the hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 20 years.  Witnesses at the hearing included Frank Luntz, President of Luntz Research Companies, who discussed the findings of his recent polling that found overwhelming public support for a clean water trust fund. Luntz found that such support is far greater than for highways or aviation — which respectively already enjoys $30 billion/year and $8 billion/year federal trust funds. Ken Rubin, Senior Partner, PA Consulting Group, testified on behalf of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) regarding the need for, and economic viability of, a clean water trust fund. Jack Schenendorf, former Chief of Staff for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, also testified in favor of a trust fund on behalf of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Witnesses from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the bottled beverage industry expressed reservations about potential trust fund revenue sources, including a national tax on water users or bottled beverage containers. Their testimony is available on the WIN website (www.win-water.org). WIN called the hearing a critical step toward eventual introduction and passage of legislation to create a clean water trust fund. Water Resources subcommittee staff Jimmy Duncan (R-TN) indicated that the subcommittee would begin drafting an SRF reauthorization bill, but did not indicate any schedule or plans for including a trust fund in the bill. (SJH)

This Week in Washington is provided by the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, VA. To receive This Week in Washington by e-mail, contact Lisa Jones, (703) 684-2400 ext. 7741, ljones@wef.org . For more information on this week's stories, please contact the WEF staff whose initials appear at the end of the item in which you are interested. TW - Tim Williams (703) 684-2437, twilliams@wef.org ; SRT - Sharon Thomas, (703) 684-2423, sthomas@wef.org ; SJH - Sam Hadeed (703) 684-2418, shadeed@wef.org ; PS-Patricia Sinicropi (703) 684-2416, psinicropi@wef.org . This Week in Washington is available on-line at http://www.wef.org/PolicyAction/USGovernmentAffairs/TWIW/.