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Welcome to the Water Resources Coalition's June newsletter. The 111th Congress has continued to look at water resources issues this month with the notable movement of both the Water Infrastructure Financing Act in the Senate and Climate Change legislation in the House. This month's 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. | |
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Senate Committee Clears $38.5 Billion Water Bill
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved major water infrastructure legislation on May 14 that significantly boosts federal investments in drinking water and wastewater projects.
The Water Infrastructure Financing Act of 2009 (S. 1005) authorizes a total of $38.5 billion over five years for projects funded through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs -- $20 billion for the CWSRF and $14.7 billion over the same period for the Drinking Water SRF. Additional funding is also authorized for combined sewer overflow grants, watershed restoration projects, and "critical drinking water infrastructure projects.
The measure extends SRF loans to 30 years; broadens the list of eligible projects; gives greater weight to applications from communities developing asset management and long-term financial plans; and revises the allocation formula to state water agencies. The bill must now go before the full Senate, and if that body passes the bill, it will need to be reconciled with the House version. |
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House Committee Climate Change Legislation
The House Energy and Commerce Committee ordered to be reported by a vote of 33 - 25 on May 21, 2009 H.R. 2454, a bill to create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution, and transition to a clean energy economy. The WRC followed the development of this legislation because of the effect this proposal may have, if enacted into law, on the nation's Federal and State water resource agencies and programs.
In Subpart C - Natural Resource Adaption - in Section 475 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Environmental Protection agency are among the ten Federal agencies that make up the Natural Resources Climate Change Adaption Panel. That panel is directed to produce a Natural Resources Climate Change Adaption Strategy not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this subpart. Not later than one year after that Strategy is produced Natural Resource Agency Adaption Plans are to be produced.
To assist in these efforts a Natural Resources Climate Change Adaption Account is established where among other Federal Agencies the Department of the Interior will allocate 17% in each fiscal year for activities, including the Bureau of Reclamation, with 5% allocated to Interior for a list of other programs and an additional 3% for financial assistance to Indian tribes. EPA is to provide 7.5% of an allocation from this fund for specific river systems and watersheds and the Corps of Engineers is to be provided 5% for restoration work.
The funding from the sell of allowances by the States provides for the use of the proceeds to be used exclusively for the implementation of projects, programs, or other measures to build resilience to the impacts of climate change for among other things: water scarcity and adverse impacts on water quality; more frequent droughts; and ecosystem disruption.
The legislation has been referred to the House Agriculture and House Ways and Means Committees with a deadline to report out by mid June. Senate action is expected later this year.
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WRC Member Urges Congress to Create National Levee Safety Program
Congress should enact legislation to establish a national levee safety program that is modeled on the successful National Dam Safety Program, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), a WRC Co-Chair, told a Congressional subcommittee this week.
"The federal government must accept the responsibility for the safety of all federally funded and regulated levees," ASCE said in a statement submitted to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, which was reviewing the recommendations of the Levee Safety Committee released in January
"State governments must enact legislation authorizing an appropriate entity to undertake a program of levee safety for non-federal levees. The act should require the federal and state governments to conduct mandatory safety inspections for all levees and establish a national inventory of levees," ASCE added. The Society also said Congress should create an independent regulatory agency to be called the "National Levee and Dam Safety Commission" to oversee all federal and state levee and dam safety programs. The new commission should not be part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but must be a truly separate body in the manner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ASCE said. |
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Bureau of Reclamation's Top Official Confirmed, Hearing Held on Interior's Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Nominee
Michael L. Connor, nominated by President Obama to be the next Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner, was confirmed by voice vote in the Senate May 21. During his confirmation testimony, Connor, counsel for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for the last eight years, emphasized his knowledge and professional background in water issues, in addition to his commitment to working in a cooperative manner to avoid water policy being "formulated in the courtrooms rather than the negotiating table."
Anne Castle, President Obama's nominee to be assistant secretary for water and science at the Department of Interior, testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee June 2. Castle, another in a string of Coloradans nominated to work with Secretary Salazar, is a partner in Holland & Hart LLP in their Denver office. During her testimony, Castle stated, "One of my top priorities will be focusing on implementation of the Secure Act whose provisions can help water managers adjust for climate change. We know water conservation equals energy conservation and vice-versa. The Bureau of Reclamation should be leading the way for crafting those strategies".
If confirmed, Castle will oversea the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey within Interior.
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Environmental Protection Agency Sees Funding Increases
President Obama's Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) budget proposal includes a total of $10.5 billion for EPA, a 34% increase over the agency's Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) budget. The budget request provides $2.4 billion for the clean water state revolving fund (CWSRF) and $1.4 billion for the drinking water state revolving fund (DWSRF). This funding will support efforts to build and renovate an estimated 1,000 clean water and 700 drinking water infrastructure projects, support green infrastructure deployment and create thousands of new jobs.
Funding also will be available to help communities repair and upgrade the aging network of drinking water and wastewater pipes that are overwhelmed and breaking down. Additionally, the budget also includes $475 million for an inter-agency Great Lakes initiative and efforts to protect, maintain and restore the Chesapeake Bay, Anacostia River, Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay, Lake Champlain, and other large water bodies. The budget proposes new funding to support development of nutrient water quality criteria by the states and increases funding for research and enforcement programs. Furthermore, the budget request also includes $17 million for a greenhouse gas registry, including funds for data reporting and implementation efforts, data management system, guidance and materials for the regulated community and source measurement technologies. Finally, the budget proposal eliminates funding for EPA watershed protection and flood prevention grants, the Brownfields Economic Development Initiative and Local Government Climate Change grants.
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Coburn Attacks Beaches Once Again
The battle for and against federal beach nourishment projects has long grabbed national headlines, as reporters typically enjoy targeting beaches without conducting much research on the cost-benefits of maintaining these coastal treasures. This Memorial Day weekend, no less a figure than United States Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) once again attacked the federal beach nourishment program in what purports to be a "Congressional Oversight & Investigations Report." In this so-called report, Washed Out to Sea: How Congress Prioritizes Beach Pork over National Needs -- nothing but a collection of anti-beach news stories, magazine articles, and environmental-group diatribes cobbled together by the Senator's staff -- Coburn concludes that Congress dumps billions of dollars into beach projects that primarily serve the rich and, literally, get swept away with the tide. The report goes on to cite studies have found renourished beaches disappear faster than natural beaches and recover poorly after storms when compared to natural beaches. The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) was quick to draw attention to some of the anomalies in Senator Coburn's "report." Contrary to the newspaper and magazine articles used to support the Senator's position, ASBPA emphasized that there are well-documented scientific reports by nationally respected agencies, such as the National Academy of Sciences, stating that beach nourishment clearly works and is the best protection against the damage caused by the powerful waves that accompany storms and hurricanes. ASBPA lobbyist Howard Marlowe also made a point to defend the merit of federally authorized beach nourishment projects. In his interview on CBS Nightly News last week, Mr. Marlowe refuted Coburn's allegations that beach protection only benefits the rich and is ineffective. To view the full interview, please visit: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/26/eveningnews/main5041144.shtml |
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Agencies Release Recovery Projects Progress Reports
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) allocated $787 billion in government spending to induce economic growth. Of that, nearly $100 billion was dedicated to infrastructure spending.
As part of legislation, government agencies that received stimulus funds are required to report to the president on the progress of recovery projects. Additionally, President Barack Obama put Vice President Joe Biden in charge of overseeing ARRA's implementation. Biden submitted his first quarterly status report to the president in mid-May. The report states that recovery disbursements are either on track, or in some cases ahead of schedule. Additionally, Biden notes that government agencies are making efforts to improve their reporting and transparency efforts, so that reports are being released on the mandated weekly pace easily - a task that the vice president notes used to take months. The full report is available on the government's recovery website. http://www.recovery.gov/sites/default/files/FINALQ1_ARRA_Report.pdf Additionally, agency by agency reports are also available. http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/agencies |
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NWQMC Hosting its Annual Monitoring Conference!
The National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC) is hosting its 7th National Monitoring Conference, Monitoring from the Summit to the Sea, in Denver, CO from April 25-29, 2010. The conference will focus on the many facets of water quality and quantity monitoring for improved understanding, protection, and restoration of our natural resources and communities. It will also provide a unique forum for water practitioners from all backgrounds.
The NWQMC is requesting abstracts for oral and poster presentations that are applicable to the monitoring of all waters from the summit to the sea, including rivers, streams, lakes, groundwater, wetlands, estuaries and the ocean.
Abstracts should be submitted via the Internet by logging onto acwi.gov/monitoring/ and clicking on "2010 National Monitoring Conference." Follow the instructions provided on the abstract-submittal page.
All abstracts must be received no later than September 19, 2009.
Authors of abstracts accepted for oral and poster presentations will be notified by January 8th, 2010 and will receive further guidelines for preparation of presentations, papers, and posters. All presenters must register for the conference.
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Sincerely,
Brian Pallasch and Marco Giamberardino
Co-Chairs
Water Resources Coalition |
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