2017 Mid-Year in TWO WEEKS!
The ACWA 2017 Mid-Year Meeting is fast approaching! ACWA has confirmed new EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt as a keynote speaker for this year’s meeting.
At this critical time of transition the 2017 Mid-Year Meeting will be a great opportunity for you to hear from our partners in the Office of Water, key representatives from Capitol Hill and to help the ACWA Board of Directors develop a set of priorities for advancing state water quality programs nationwide over the next year to 18 months.
This year’s meeting will have a different format. There will be fewer presentations focused on just sharing information out to the attendees and more opportunities for discussion and input . The entire meeting is closed, with attendance open only to ACWA members and staff, Office of Water Partners, and other invited guests. We will also devote a significant amount of time to reviewing and soliciting feedback on the draft strategic plan that is currently under development. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard. Register Now!
ACWA’s block of rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn are full. Rooms are available at the Hyatt Place – NoMA a few yards away from the Hilton. Click here to reserve a room or call 202-289-5599. Ask for special rate, government per diem rate.
2017 ASCE Infrastructure Report Card
On Thursday, the American Society of Civil Engineers released the 2017 version of their Infrastructure Report Card, a comprehensive assessment of America’s Infrastructure. ASCE releases the report card every 4 years, which grades infrastructure condition and needs using a “A-F” scale and issues policy recommendations as well.
The “cumulative grade” for the country’s infrastructure remains the same as in 2013: a D+, which ASCE translates as fair to poor condition, mostly below standard, with many elements approaching the end of their service life and large portions of the system deteriorating significantly, providing serious concerns and strong risks of failure. On the water side, Dams received a D, Ports received a C+, Drinking Water received a D, inland waterways received a D, levees received a D, and wastewater received a D+.
You can view the full report card here, and learn more about infrastructure needs, specific solutions/recommendations by sector, find links to states which have created their own state level report cards, and read about the process ASCE uses to create the grades and the report.
WOTUS Federal Register Notice
On March 6th, EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Department of Defense published a notice of “Intention to Review and Rescind or Revise the Clean Water Rule” in the Federal Register. The FR publication continues the new administration’s efforts beginning with last week’s Executive Order on the same subject. The notice reaffirms the administration’s concerns about regulatory uncertainty, legality, and scope of WOTUS rule. The notice also provides advance notice of a forthcoming proposed rulemaking where EPA and USACE will consider interpreting “navigable waters” in a manner consistent with the opinion of Justice Scalia in the 2006 Rapanos decision. ACWA will continue to monitor any related rulemaking and litigation moving forward.
For more information, contact Julian Gonzalez.
319/Nonpoint Source Workgroup Call
On Thursday, the ACWA 319/Nonpoint Source Workgroup held a webinar/ conference call featuring a presentation by New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, University of New Hampshire, and Dover, NH Dept. of Public Works on how lessons they learned while successfully integrating urban stormwater BMPs in Dover, NH on a specific project. The presentation covered how the project was planned, how implementation efforts had to deviate from the plans early and often, the importance of innovation and flexibility as well as local partnership, and also provided an overview of data gathered since implementation.
For more information, contact Julian Gonzalez.
Coal Car Permits
On October 25, 2016 a federal district court judge ruled, as part of his decision on motions for summary judgement, that coal train cars were point sources as contemplated by the clean water Act (Sierra Club et al v. BNSF Railway). Rather than continue with the litigation, on March 3, 2017 the parties submitted a proposed settlement agreement to the court. In this agreement, the railway would study the feasibility of covering the open top coal and petcoke cars. The railway would also remove significant accumulations of coal/petcoke materials in certain areas on the railway properties. The railway is also agreeing to pay $1,000,000 to a foundation that will help improve water quality and habitat restoration in the state of Washington. The environmental groups agree to release the railway from all current claims in the suit and agreed not to sue the railway again for open top rail cars for the next 5 years.
Coming Up . . . .
Tribes & Environmental Law Webinar
Tuesday, March 14, 1:30 – 3:00pm ET
For agenda and call-in information, contact Mark Patrick McGuire.
Variance Webinar
Wednesday, March 15, 3:00 – 4:30pm ET
For agenda and call-in information, contact Mark Patrick McGuire.
