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

Water Quality Trading Conference Attracts Over 300 Attendees; EPA and USDA Announce New Collaboration
At the 2nd National Water Quality Trading Conference in Pittsburgh, PA this week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Ben Grumbles said that EPA has set a goal to increase the number of trades in NPDES permits by 33%.  There are currently 93 permits with trading, most in the Northeastern U.S.  Grumbles also announced a new EPA partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to advance water quality trading.  According to Grumbles, the two agencies will be entering into a Memorandum of Understanding within the next month.  EPA plans to issue guidance on trading for the agriculture community and a trading toolkit for permit writers sometime this summer.  EPA’s policy on trading was issued in January of 2003, followed by the first EPA trading conference in July of the same year.  Over 300 people attended this week’s conference, which was held jointly by EPA and USDA.  Issues related to agriculture and nonpoint source involvement in trading were heavily emphasized.  WEF co-sponsored the conference.  J. Michael Read, WEF’s President, spoke during Wednesday’s plenary session on the role of organizations like WEF in advancing the watershed approach and trading through education and collaboration.  Presentations given at the conference will be available at http://www.envtn.org/.  Information on EPA’s trading activities is at http://www.envtn.org/. (SRT)

ASIWPCA Announces New Executive Director
On May 22, the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrator’s (ASIWPCA) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Linda Eichmiller as Executive Director.  Eichmiller will be moving into this position after serving the Association as Deputy Director for 18 years.   Since joining the Association, Eichmiller has made significant contributions.  Through her efforts, the first ever “measures of environmental results” for EPA’s clean water program were put into place and are being used to this day. She has been involved with many innovations that have been adopted into law and implemented in water quality programs across the country.  During Linda’s tenure, State and Interstate programs have been enhanced and the state/federal/local partnerships have been greatly strengthened.  Linda has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a J.D. in law from the University of Minnesota.  In one of her first decisions, Eichmiller appointed Sean Rolland as Deputy Director of ASIWPCA.  Rolland has worked with the Association for several years, serving as a Legal and Policy Analyst for the last four. Rolland has bachelor degrees in marine biology and environmental sciences and also a J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. (PS)
 
Wastewater Security Bill Passes Senate Committee
On May 23, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved by voice vote legislation to  encourage cities and towns to assess the vulnerability of their wastewater treatment plants to terrorist attacks and natural disasters.  The Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act (S. 2781) would offer financial aid to utilities if they choose to do vulnerability assessments. The bill authorizes $220 million in grants to be disbursed by the Environmental Protection Agency for wastewater security improvements. The funding total includes $200 million for grants for vulnerability assessments and security enhancements, $15 million for technical assistance for small treatment plants, and $5 million for refinement of vulnerability assessment methodology for plants.  The Water Environment Federation worked with Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman of the Committee, to include a provision in the bill that would authorize a training program to help wastewater treatment works conduct assessments and to undertake security enhancements.   The legislation was introduced May 10 by Senator Inhofe and Senators Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and followed on the heels of a Government Accountability Office report that found that while many wastewater treatment plants have already conducted vulnerability assessments, funding remains a barrier for many plants that want to undertake security enhancements.  During committee deliberations on the bill, Senator James Jeffords (I-VT) offered an amendment in the form of a bill (S. 2855) that would have provided money for drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities that use chlorine as a disinfectant to convert to a safer alternative, such as sodium hypochlorite or ultraviolet light.  The amendment failed.  The bill now goes on to the full Senate for passage. (PS)
 
NRDC Announces Intent to Sue EPA Over Alleged Violations of the BEACH Act
On May 24, the Natural Resources Defense Council announced it intends to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for its alleged failure to comply with a federal law to protect beach-goers from waterborne diseases.  Congress enacted the Beaches Environmental Assessment, Cleanup, and Health Act of 2000 (BEACH Act) in 2000 to reduce pollution from pathogens released into coastal beaches either through wastewater treatment discharges or run-off.  According to NRDC, EPA has missed several deadlines established under the Act to study human illnesses caused by polluted beach water and to update water quality standards.  The BEACH Act required EPA to establish new water quality standards, strong enough to protect vulnerable populations, by October 2005, but according to NRDC, EPA will not finalize these standards until 2011.   In response to NRDC's announcement of its intent to sue, an EPA spokesman stated that the agency has built a strong beach program with 35 state and territorial partners and that to date, states and territories have received EPA grants totaling more than $52 million, including $10 million in 2006, for beach monitoring.  In 2005, EPA said that 3,600 beaches were monitored because of the grants compared with 1,000 beaches when the program started.  EPA has ninety days to address NRDC’s concerns before the organization actually files a lawsuit.  (PS)

Longtime EPA Official Mike Cook Announces Plans To Retire
Mike Cook, Director of EPA’s Office of Superfund Remediation & Technology Innovation, which is responsible for long term cleanup of sites under the Superfund program, has announced his retirement, effective in August.  He managed EPA’s emergency response program from 1980-1981, including early implementation of the new Superfund legislation.  He served from 1981-1985 as Deputy Director of the Office of Sold Waste, which is responsible for regulating transport, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous and municipal waste. From 1985 to 1991, Cook was Director of the Office of Drinking Water, which regulated the nation’s drinking water, and groundwater injection of fluids and wastes at 300,000 wells.  From 1991 to 2002, Cook was Director of the Office of Wastewater Management, which is responsible for issuing permits for municipal and industrial wastewater discharges, and administering financial and technical assistance for POTWs.  Cook was also on the governance committee of the National Biosolids Partnership when it was established in 1997. Cook has received numerous awards while in Government service, including EPA’s gold, sliver, and bronze medals. (SJH)
 
Establishment of the Coastal Elevations and Sea Level Rise Advisory Committee
EPA announced in the May 22 Federal Register that it is establishing the Coastal Elevations and Sea Level Rise Advisory Committee (CESLAC) under section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of this Committee is to provide advice on the conduct of a study titled Coastal Elevations and Sensitivity to Sea Level Rise to be conducted as part of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). It is part of a comprehensive assessment of issues identified by the CCSP's Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program. CESLAC will advise on the specific issues which should be addressed in the assessment, appropriate technical approaches, the nature of information relevant to decision makers, the content of the assessment report, and other scientific and technical matters that may be found to be important to the successful completion of the study. EPA has determined that this advisory committee is in the public interest and will assist the Agency in performing its duties under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act and the Global Climate Protection Act. Balanced membership will be achieved by including individuals from the Federal Government, State and/or local governments, the scientific community, non-governmental organizations and the private sector with expertise, experience, knowledge and interests essential to, or affected by, the successful completion of the study titled Coastal Elevations and Sensitivity to Sea Level Rise. Copies of the Committee Charter will be filed with the appropriate congressional committees and the Library of Congress. (SJH)

Quote of the Week: “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”  ~Maya Angelou

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/GovernmentAffairs/TWIW/.