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Welcome to the Water Resources Coalition's November newsletter. This Water Resources Coalition newsletter will once again focus on all of the progress being made as we try to achieve the development, implementation, and funding of a comprehensive, national water resources policy to ensure a sustainable, productive economy; a healthy aquatic ecology; and public health and safety. Have a happy Holiday Season! |
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White House Council on Environmental Quality Releases Revised Principles and Guidelines
On December 3, the White House Council on Environmental Quality submitted a proposal for review to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) that would significantly change the principles and guidelines that govern federal water-resource planning. The proposal would require that all projects improve the economic well-being of the nation, better protect communities from the effects of floods and storms, help communities and individuals make better choices about where to build based on an understanding of the risk, and protect and restore the environment.
The proposal calls for the development of water-resources projects to be based on the best available science, increased consideration of monetary and non-monetary benefits to justify and select a project, improved transparency, and consideration of nonstructural approaches that can solve the flooding problem without harming floodplain functions. The proposal would also expand the scope of the Principals and Guidelines to cover all federal agencies that undertake water-resource projects.
The Obama administration will publish the new draft Principles and Guidelines in the Federal Register for a 90-day public comment period ending in early March. The NAS review is expected to be completed by November 2010.
In the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, Congress instructed the Secretary of the Army to develop a new Principles and Guidelines for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In an effort to modernize the approach to water resources development, the administration is expanding the scope of the Principals and Guidelines to cover all federal agencies that undertake water resource projects, not just the four agencies (i.e., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Tennessee Valley Authority) which are subject to the current Principles and Guidelines.
The proposed revisions to the Principles and Guidelines would require that:
- Federal water-resources planning and development to protect and restore the environment and improve the economic well-being of the nation for present and future generations. While the 1983 standards emphasized economic development alone, the new approach calls for development of water resources projects based on sound science that maximize net national economic, environmental, and social benefits.
- All federal agencies consider monetary and non-monetary benefits to justify and select a project that has the greatest net benefits - regardless of whether those benefits are monetary or non-monetary. For example, the monetary benefits might capture reduced damages measured in dollars while the non-monetary benefits might capture increased fish and wildlife benefits, or biodiversity.
- Any decision to modify water resources and floodplains will be based on evaluations of the services gained and lost by such an action. Only those actions that provide a net benefit will be further pursued or recommended for construction. For the first time such evaluations must give full and equal consideration to nonstructural approaches that can solve the flooding problem without adversely impacting floodplain functions.
- Water-resources projects deliver "good government" results for the American people. It is expected that the use of best science, peer review, and full transparency will ensure that projects undergo a more rigorous study process, which should inform authorization and funding decisions.
Each agency will develop its own "Implementation Guidance" to outline how the new Principles and Guidelines apply to their agency-specific missions completed in late 2010.
The proposed revisions can be viewed here. |
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WRC Urges Congress to Increase Water Infrastructure Funding in Jobs Bill
Congress is working toward creating a jobs bill in the upcoming weeks in order to thwart the 10.2% unemployment rate from continuing to increase. House leaders hope to pass a bill by December 18, while the Senate hopes to pick up similar legislation in January. Conversations revolving around the bill have the legislation including a heavy infrastructure component and two different sources of funding are being seriously considered.
The Water Resources Coalition is urging Congress to increase water resources infrastructure investment in a new jobs bill. The Coalition sent a letter to House leadership urging and increase in water resources funding in the bill and identified areas where the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation could properly use the funds to the benefit of water projects thoughout the country.
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Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Held a Hearing on Projects for WRDA 2010
On November 18, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on Proposals for a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2010. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has begun the process of developing a new WRDA bill, in order to address the nation's latest water resources needs. The Committee has been accepting member requests for WRDA 2010 projects already and the hearing focused on listening to fellow Members of Congress outline their specific requests.
The Water Resources Coaltion sent a letter to Congress on the day of the hearing in order to urge passage of a new WRDA bill on time and on schedule. The Coalition also urges Congress to increase funding to the states for water resource planning in order to prevent future crisis such as flooding or drought. To view our full letter please click here. For more information, including the Committee's request for project information is available at: http://transportation.house.gov/Media/file/water/WRDA/WRDA%202010%20Dear%20Colleague%201.pdf |
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EPA Data Finds Increased Mercury in Nation's Water
There are concentrations of toxic chemicals in fish tissue from lakes and reservoirs in nearly all 50 U.S. states, the Environmental Protection Agency said this week. "For the first time, EPA is able to estimate the percentage of lakes and reservoirs nationwide that have fish containing potentially harmful levels of chemicals such as mercury and PCBs," the agency said.
The data showed mercury concentrations in game fish exceeding EPA's recommended levels at 49 percent of lakes and reservoirs nationwide, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in game fish at levels of potential concern at 17 percent of lakes and reservoirs, EPA announced.
Burning fossil fuels, primarily coal, accounts for nearly half of mercury air emissions caused by human activity in the U.S., and those emissions are a significant contributor to mercury in water bodies, the agency added.
From 1990 through 2005, emissions of mercury into the air decreased by 58 percent. EPA is committed to developing a new rule to substantially reduce mercury emissions from power plants, and the administration is actively supporting a new international agreement that will reduce mercury emissions worldwide, the agency said.
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Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act Gaining Momentum
Since mid October the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act (H.R. 1770/S. 732) has gained nine new co-sponsors in the House, bringing the total up to 20, and has surpassed the amount of co-sponsors the same bill had in the previous Congress.
The bipartisan bill was introduced in March in both the House and the Senate and would create a new program within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide $200 million over five years for the repair, rehabilitation, or removal of non-federal publicly owned dams.
The Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act was introduced in the 110th Congress and passed the House and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. However it never reached the Senate floor for a final vote.
Aging dams will continue to be a problem in the United States as downstream development below dams increases dramatically. The American Society of Civil Engineers 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure graded dams with a "D" and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials estimates that $50 billion is needed to rehabilitate all dams across the nation, while $12 billion is needed over the next 10 years to address the most critical dams.
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EPA Cites Municipalities for Stormwater Violations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has cited 14 municipalities in Pennsylvania and Maryland for stormwater violations. Nine of the municipalities are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Announcing the enforcement actions this week, Jon Capacasa, director of the Water Protection Division for EPA's mid-Atlantic region, said: "Because many of these municipalities are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, this action, along with others will also help protect and restore the Bay,"
Urban areas contain large impervious surfaces such as roads, rooftops and parking lots that channel stormwater directly into local streams, rivers, and other water bodies. Improperly managed stormwater runoff from urbanized areas often contains high levels of nutrients, sediment, toxic metals, volatile organic compounds, and other pollutants.
EPA requires the municipalities to correct problems with their respective municipal separate storm sewer (MS4) programs and come into compliance with their state-issued discharge permits. MS4s are publicly owned drainage systems designed to collect and convey stormwater from urbanized areas.
Some of the 14 municipalities have already taken steps to comply with the orders.
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Congressional Funding Sought for Damaged Coastal Communities
The recent storm that struck the Gulf and East Coasts has caused millions of dollars worth of coastal damages, primarily to sand lost from beaches. Particularly hurt by this were Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey and New York, as well as Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama ,with residual damage to other states. Although beach protection projects completed in recent years did greatly reduce the overall property and infrastructure loss, many communities in these states have lost large quantities of sand and are now increasingly vulnerable to future winter storms.
Letters to General Temple, Deputy Commanding General for Civil & Emergency Operations at the Corps of Engineers, asking him to request emergency funding for these communities. Since sending this letter, we have received numerous inquiries from Congressional offices, asking how they can help these communities rebuild and reinforce their coastal communities.
Without this important funding, these already vulnerable coasts will be at a higher risk to damage from future storms.
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California Lawmakers Pass a Final Water Deal
California lawmakers finally passed water legislation in early November after months of discussions and weeks of negotiations. The final bill includes an $11.1 billion bond which would push the state's water policy in a new direction. However the bill will first have to go before voters next November, a risky move in a time where that state is suffering from gaping budget deficits and job losses.
The legislation would establish a statewide program that for the first time would measure if too much water is being pumped from underground aquifers. It mandates an overall 20% drop in the states' per capita water use by 2020 and creates a new, politically appointed council to oversee management of the Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta, that water hub of the state. |
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ASCE Publishes "So, You Live Behind a Levee"
Most people know that levees are built near rivers and lakes to reduce flooding risk, but what does it mean to live behind one? Are your home and family safe from floods? How much protection does the levee really provide? What do you need to know to be safe? ASCE's new public education booklet, So, You Live Behind a Levee!, was created to answer those questions and more, and to help individuals and communities better protect themselves against future flood threats.
Written for both engineers and the non-engineering public, it covers issues such as flood size and risk, signs of trouble, ways to reduce risk, and how to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
ASCE graded Levees at a D- on the 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure and recommended developing a Levee Safety Program similar to the current federal Dam Safety Program.
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Sincerely,
Brian Pallasch and Marco Giamberardino
Co-Chairs
Water Resources Coalition |
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