President Issues Veto Message for Water Resources Bill
President Bush this week issued his veto message for the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA), which Congress sent to him on Sept. 24.  The Act authorizes water resources projects to be undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers, including ecosystem restoration projects in the Florida Everglades and hurricane protection projects in New Orleans.  The final legislation was passed by a margin of 381-40 in the House of Representatives and 81-20 in the Senate.  WRDA represents years of negotiating between the Senate and House to finalize re-authorization legislation that was last enacted in 2000.  Congress tried to re-authorize WRDA in each of the last three sessions of Congress but was unable to agree on a compromise.  The Administration is opposing the bill primarily because of its price tag, which is estimated at $23 billion over fifteen years.  Among reform measures included in the Act are creation of the Committee on Levee Safety that would make recommendations for a national levee safety program; requirements for independent technical reviews for Corps projects exceeding $45 million; and a safety review of construction activities for flood and storm damage projects at the discretion of the agency’s Chief of Engineers.  The Act also authorizes projects that relate to water and wastewater municipal infrastructure projects.  Given the wide margins by which the legislation passed both chambers, it appears that a congressional override of a presidential veto is likely.

New Report Details States' Wastewater Needs
A new report released Oct. 2 by Food and Water Watch, an advocacy group working to stop the corporate control of food and water, details how states' wastewater needs are exceeding their available funding.  In Clear Waters: Why America Needs a Clean Water Trust Fund, the group examines trends in clean water spending state-by-state, demonstrates the need for urgent action, and explains the benefits of establishing a clean water trust fund. The report highlights that a majority of states are facing current and projected wastewater infrastructure needs that far exceed available funding.  For example, according to the report, Minnesota's wastewater needs are more than five times its current funding capabilities and more than 90 times its 2007 federal allotment.  The federal government is not meeting its obligations by funding the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the report said.  The report is available at www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/pubs/reports/clear-waters-clean-water-trust-fund.

EPA To Hold Meeting of the Total Coliform Rule Distribution System Advisory Committee
EPA announced in the Oct. 1 Federal Register that it will hold a meeting of the Total Coliform Rule Distribution System Advisory Committee (TCRDSAC).  The TCRDSAC advises and makes recommendations to the agency on revisions to the Total Coliform Rule (TCR), and on what information should be collected, research conducted, and/or risk management strategies evaluated to better inform distribution system contaminant occurrence and associated public health risks.  Topics to be discussed in the meeting include available public health information and how it relates to the TCR; how the TCR relates to other Safe Drinking Water Act regulations, such as the Ground Water Rule; TCR implementation and compliance; and information on distribution system issues that may impact water quality.  The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 17.  Additional information is available at www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-MEETINGS/2007/October/Day-01/m19316.htm.  

WERF Makes Funding Available for Research on Biosolids Pathogen Risk Assessment
The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) is accepting proposals for research addressing biosolids pathogen risk assessment and the effective communication of results.  WERF anticipates funding of approximately $250,000 - $500,000 for the first year of research.  WERF wants this research to facilitate use of biosolids pathogens risk assessment methodologies for the purpose of making them generally applicable and available to potential users at the local, state, and national level. A complementary activity will be to ensure that the best risk communications science and practices are available to communicate the results.  Proposals are due no later than Nov. 16.  Additional information, including a complete request for proposals, is available at www.werf.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Funding/OpenRFPs/default.htm.

Quote of the Week:
“You do not ask a tame seagull why it needs to disappear from time to time toward the open sea.  It goes, that's all."
 - Bernard Moitessier, renowned French yachtsman, from The Long Way, 1971