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.

April 7, 2006

Provided by the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, VA

Senate Appropriators Criticize EPA Budget for Clean Water and Arsenic Rule
On Thursday, a Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees EPA’s budget held a hearing on EPA’s FY07 budget request at which democrats were highly critical of the Administration’s funding request for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).  Democratic Ranking Member of the subcommittee, Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), said the Administration’s proposed cut to the CWSRF will only increase the gap between local needs for such water infrastructure and available federal funding.  EPA Administrator Steven Johnson defended the proposed $200 million cut by explaining that it fulfills the administration's long-term goal of appropriating $6.8 billion in total for local water infrastructure projects between 2004 and 2011.  By 2011, the loan program is expected to become self-sustaining, essentially providing $3.4 billion each year for local projects without any additional federal appropriation, according to EPA.  During the hearing, EPA also came under attach for its arsenic rule which requires that drinking water systems lower arsenic levels to 10 parts per billion by this past January unless they received an EPA extension.  Senator Larry Craig (R-WY) said that an estimated 175 small Idaho communities "probably don't meet the EPA arsenic standard" and that for some rural towns, the cost of modernizing their water systems would eat their entire budgets for a single year. Senator Craig urged EPA to consider granting waivers to rural areas if they can show that upgrading their systems would cause financial hardship. Administrator Johnson said EPA is sensitive to how the rule affects local communities and pointed to research the agency has conducted examining 14 alternative technological approaches for treating arsenic. He also pledged to work with small communities to extend the deadline if necessary. (PS)
 
Legislation Introduced in Support of Great Lakes Regional Strategy
Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Carl Levin (D-MI) introduced legislation authorizing $23.5 billion to help implement recommendations made by the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration, which issued its report last December.  The bill, S.508, The Great Lakes Environmental Restoration Act, would do the following: provide additional resources to states and cities for their water infrastructure; provide additional funding for contaminated sediment cleanup and give EPA additional tools under the Great Lakes Legacy Act to hasten the projects; create a new grant program to phase out mercury in products; authorize additional research and coordination of federal programs; reduce the threat of invasive species through comprehensive legislation and putting ballast technology on board ships; and, restore fish and wildlife habitat by reauthorizing the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act.  A related bill in the House, H.R. 792, seeks to accomplish the same goals of the Senate bill and authorizes up to $800 million annually through 2011.  (PS)
 
EPA Pollution Prevention Grants Available
EPA announced in the April 3 Federal Register the availability of Pollution Prevention (P2) grants to States, Tribes, and Intertribal Consortia for prevention activities during FY 2006-2007.  These grants are targeted for State and Tribal technical assistance programs that address the reduction or elimination of pollution by businesses across all environmental media.  The total amount of funding available for award in FY 2006 is approximately $4.1 million. The maximum funding level per project is $150,000. To access the full text of the grant announcement at:
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/p2home/grants/ppis/ppis.htm. Proposals must be received on or before May 18. To view the FR notice, visit: http://www.myspy.us/cgi-bin/nph-paidmember.cgi/111011A/http/www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-GENERAL/2006/April/Day-03/g4762.htm. (SJH)

EPA Weighs Options to Speed and Strengthen Air Quality Standard-Setting Process
Options intended to ensure that the best and latest available science is used in setting and reviewing air quality standards were submitted to EPA’s Deputy Administrator, Marcus Peacock, on April 3 by EPA officials at the Office of Research and Development and Office of  Air and Radiation.  The recommendations, outlined in a memo to the agency's deputy administrator, would promote the timeliness for setting air quality standards, provide consistency with other Agency rulemakings, and enable a more thorough review of the latest science on air quality.  In developing its recommendations, EPA officials considered input from members of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), environment and industry stakeholders, and EPA staff.  EPA will continue to work with CASAC and interested stakeholders as the review process moves forward.  Additional information on the April 3 action is available at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/indexnew.html.  (SJH)
 
EPA Announces Implementation of Authority to Appoint Research Consultants
EPA announced in the April 4 Federal Register that it is taking direct final action to implement the Agency’s statutory authority in Title II of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-54) that allows EPA to establish fellowships in environmental protection research, appoint fellows to conduct the research, and appoint special research consultants to advise on the research.   Under an administrative provision of Public Law 109-54, the Administrator may, after consultation with the Office of Personnel Management, make up to five (5) appointments in any fiscal year from 2006 to 2011 for the Office of Research and Development.  Appointees under this authority will engage in activities related to scientific and engineering research that support the EPA's mission and will be employees of the EPA. The rule is effective on June 5 without further notice unless EPA receives adverse comment by May 4.  To view the rule, visit: http://www.myspy.us/cgi-bin/nph-paidmember.cgi/111011A/http/www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-GENERAL/2006/April/Day-04/g3205.htm.  (SJH)

Hotel Deadline TODAY for the National Clean Water Policy Forum
Today is the last day to reserve a room at a reduced rate for the 2006 National Clean Water Policy Forum, held jointly by WEF and NACWA on May 1-3 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.  Registration and agenda are available at http://www.wef.org/PolicyAction/USGovernmentAffairs/GAEvents/. 

Quote of the Week:  "Water is life's mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life   without water."   ~Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, Hungarian biochemist and Nobel Prize Winner for      Medicine.