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.

WEF Urges Congress to Address Water Resource Impacts of Climate Change
As Congress prepares to begin consideration of climate change legislation, a coalition of eight national water organizations, including WEF, called on senators and representatives to recognize the severe impacts that global climate change will likely have on water resources in the United States. The groups are urging Congress to ensure that upcoming climate change legislation includes federal support and incentives to help drinking water providers, flood and stormwater agencies, and wastewater systems confront the impacts of climate change.  On May 20, a letter and joint statement were sent to members of the House and Senate in advance of next month’s planned consideration of S. 2191, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act.  The statement urges Congress to establish a comprehensive federally sponsored applied research program, increase federal financial support, and provide federal support and incentives to enable utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when feasible. 

House Overrides President’s Farm Bill Veto, Glitch Forces Second Vote
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted 316-108 to override President Bush’s veto of the $307 billion Farm Bill earlier the same day.  The Farm Bill needs two-thirds of both the House and Senate to vote in favor of an override.  The veto was the 10th of Bush's presidency.  Congress so far has overridden him once, on the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.

In a strange twist, however, the trade title was mistakenly left out of the bill, forcing both the House and Senate to pass a corrected version of the bill and send it back to the President for another expected veto.  A second vote is scheduled for Thursday to correct the printing error.  This glitch is not likely to affect the ultimate outcome.  The House needs 290 votes to over-ride a veto.  The Senate is expected to vote on the override either this week or next week and needs two-thirds of members.  The Senate had earlier voted 81-15 to approve the Farm Bill conference report.

The Farm Bill conference report provides $25 billion over 5 years for conservation programs, including an Agriculture Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) that was crafted by a coalition that included WEF. 

Senate Environment Committee Approves BEACH Act and other Water-Related Bills
On Wednesday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved legislation reauthorizing the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act that increases funding for beach monitoring and cleanup. The Beach Protection Act of 2008 (S. 2844), co-sponsored by Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and George Voinovich (R-OH), would double from $30 million to $60 million the amount of grant money available annually to states through 2012 for beach monitoring and cleanup.  It also would expand the scope of the grants to include pollution source tracking and prevention efforts. The bill makes several changes to a previous version of the legislation, including: (1) allowing some funds to be used for beach cleanup purposes; (2) requiring EPA to validate its testing methods within two years; and (3) requiring EPA to conduct a study on how it distributes grants to states.  In addition, the bill would require EPA to approve methods that detect beach water contamination in two hours or less so that beaches can be closed quickly. Under the BEACH Act, EPA must work with states to test beach waters to protect public health. States are required to notify the public of water quality problems. In addition, the law helps states set up comprehensive monitoring and notification programs to provide up-to-date information on the condition of all public beaches. 

The House passed its version of the BEACH Act (H.R. 2537) April 16 on a voice vote. That bill would authorize $40 million in state grants to monitor and track beach water pollution during fiscal years 2008-2012.  Now the bill must pass the full Senate and be reconciled with the House bill before it can be enacted this year. 

In addition to approving the BEACH Act reauthorization, the Committee approved two additional water-related bills:  The Clean Boating Act of 2008 (S. 2766) which exempts recreational boaters from requirements to  obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for incidental discharges such as graywater, bilge water, cooling water, weather deck runoff, or oil water separator effluent; and, S. 2728, which would establish a commission to develop recommendations for a "comprehensive water strategy to address future water needs." Among other things, the commission would conduct assessments to project future water supply and demand and study current water management programs directed at increasing water supplies.  Both pieces of legislation have companion bills in the House which were approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week. 

House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Great Lakes Legacy Act
On Wednesday, the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee held a hearing on reauthorization of the Great Lakes Legacy Act, which provides funding for cleaning up contaminated sediment from various areas of concern throughout the Great Lakes basin.  Witnesses urged Congress to reauthorize the Act, boost its funding level, and provide for greater federal matching funds for cleanup projects.  Authorization for program funding under the 2002 Great Lakes Legacy Act expires Sept. 30. The current law authorized $270 million from fiscal years 2004 through 2008 to clean up toxic sediments in portions of the Great Lakes.  Witnesses urged that this amount be increased to $150 million annually.  Congressman Vern Ehlers announced at the hearing that he intends to offer legislation soon that would reauthorize the Act at the increased funding level, which is similar to funding levels suggested in a Senate-introduced version of the bill, S. 2994, co-sponsored by Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and George Voinovich (R-OH).  Witnesses at the hearing included Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor John Cherry, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin Grumbles, Alliance for the Great Lakes President and CEO Cameron Davis, Sierra Club Great Lakes program director Emily Green, and Council of Great Lakes Industries President George Kupter. Video of the hearing is available at http://transportation.house.gov.

EPA Releases 2008 Report on the Environment
On Tuesday, EPA released its 2008 Report on the Environment (2008 ROE), which the agency says uses scientific indicators to measure and report on overall progress toward protecting the environment and human health.  The purpose of the 2008 ROE is to create a reliable set of information that can be used for year-to-year comparisons as well as planning.  EPA hopes that in the future, the agency will be able to look at the trends of ROE environmental indicators over a span of years.  In addition to national scale indicators, the ROE also provides data broken out by EPA Regions.  The 2008 ROE is an update of the draft ROE that was released in 2003.  The full report is available at www.epa.gov/roe.

EPA Presents 2008 Performance Track Awards
On May 22, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson awarded National Environmental Performance Track members for their exceptional achievements in reducing their facility environmental footprints, reaching out to local communities, working with state agencies, and demonstrating environmental stewardship at the corporate level.  For more information on the 2008 awardees, visit www.epa.gov/performancetrack/benefits/2008awardees.htm.

National Drinking Water Advisory Council Announces Public Meeting
The National Drinking Water Advisory Council announced a public meeting to be held June 3-4 in Tucson, AZ.  The Council will consider various issues associated with drinking water and adaptation to climate change, including information about the EPA Office of Water's draft National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change. The Council will receive updates about several on-going projects, including the third Contaminant Candidate List, the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, and the Total Coliform Rule/Distribution System Federal Advisory Committee.  EPA will also consult with the Council on the upcoming rule-making for the geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide.  The Council is encouraging public input and will allocate one hour on June 3 for five minute oral statements from the public.  Individuals or organizations interested in presenting an oral statement or submitting a written statement should contact Veronica Blette by e-mail at blette.veronica@epa.gov. For more information visit: www.epa.gov/safewater/ndwac/.

Quote of the Week
Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse while all the others were making ships. 
~Charles Simic

To receive This Week in Washington via e-mail, contact Martha Ravenhill at mravenhill@wef.org.