March 16, 2005

Contact: Lori Burkhammer
1(703) 684-2480
lburkhammer@wef.org

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR 2005 NATIONAL CLEAN WATER POLICY FORUM

Agenda Features High Ranking EPA Officials, Chafee (R-RI), Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), among others

Alexandria, VA - The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) have joined forces to present the first-ever National Clean Water Policy Forum, May 3-4 at the Marriott Metro Center in Washington, DC. Registration is now open for the event that brings together the best features of WEF's Washington Briefing and AMSA's National Environmental Policy Forum.

This streamlined program, featuring the latest legislative and regulatory developments, will open with remarks from WEF President Lynn Orphan and AMSA President-Elect Donnie Wheeler followed by the morning keynote speaker, Stephen Johnson, Acting Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Johnson will provide a "macro" view of the Agency's priorities and impacts for the clean water community in the Fiscal Year 2006 EPA budget.

The day's feature presentation will immediately follow with a panel of high ranking EPA officials including Ben Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, James Hanlon, Director, Office of Wastewater Management, Diane Regas, Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans & Watersheds, Geoffrey Grubbs, Director, Office of Science and Technology and Cynthia Dougherty, Director, Office of Ground and Drinking Water. They will provide an overview of clean water programs affecting the nation's public wastewater utilities. A closing keynote address from the Honorable Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), senior member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, on the critical needs facing the nation's water infrastructure, will conclude the morning program.

The luncheon presentation will feature the Honorable Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Chair, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife & Water, U.S. Senate, immediately followed by a roundtable discussion of the 109th Congress' clean water agenda with two legislative panels, one focusing on the authorization of and the other the appropriations process for, clean water projects. The first day will culminate with a keynote address by Frank Lutz, President, Luntz Research, Inc., who will provide an overview of the political climate of the 109th Congress and the Bush Administration.

The second day will feature a farewell breakfast and technical roundtables with program representatives from EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discussing the clean water community’s priority issues. Closing remarks from Orphan will adjourn the two-day event followed by visits to Capitol Hill and EPA meetings. For the complete agenda, visit http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/05nepf/agenda.pdf.

Registrants are encouraged to sign up early. For information regarding program content or conference registration contact AMSA at www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings, 202-833-2672, info@amsa-cleanwater.org or WEF at 703-684-2400, ljones@wef.org.

Note to editors:
Media representatives interested in attending the forum can do so free of charge, but must contact Lori Burkhammer, Water Environment Federation at 703-684-2480, lburkhammer@wef.org to register.

About WEF
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes water quality professionals from 76 Member Associations in 30 countries. www.wef.org