NRDC SRF testimony 9-19-07

Sewage Right To Know Update

Last month, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Sewage Overflow Community Right Know Act. Now the Senate must take action and Sen. Barbara Boxer is in the driver’s seat to keep this bill moving forward. (Jul 28, 2008)

Sewage Right to Know Bill News

H.R. 2452 passed out of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 15th. (May 23, 2008)

GAO Asked to Study Potential Funding mechanisms for a Clean Water Trust Fund

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair James Oberstar, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson have formally requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) undertake a study of potential funding mechanisms and revenue sources available to establish a Clean Water Trust Fund. (Jan 31, 2008)

Sewage Right to Know Legislation Gains Steam!

The Sewage Right to Know bill (H.R. 2452/S. 2080) is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill. This bill, endorsed by the Clean Water Network, would protect public health by requiring sewage treatment plants to alert the public when there's a sewage overflow that could affect public health. The requirements would be incorporated into a POTW’s discharge permit. (Dec 13, 2007)

Sewage Right to Know Legislation

The House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on the issue of public notification of sewer overflow. The Subcommittee heard from representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency, State and local governments, public health officials, and other stakeholders on the specific merits of the Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right to Know (RTK) Act, introduced by Congressman Tim Bishop (NY), and supported by the Clean Water Network. (Nov 5, 2007)

Water Infrastructure Funding News

How to fund our countries wastewater infrastructure needs has been a hot topic across the country. Click on the link above to get updates on current actions on this critical topic. (Sep 30, 2007)

New Report on State Sewage Spill Right-to-Know Policies

Just what is in your water? A new report released by American Rivers... (Aug 28, 2007)

Help Spread the Word About the Sewage Right-to-Know Legislation – Watch Flushie’s Summer Vacation

Mark Fiore has created a cartoon called “Flushie’s Summer Vacation” to help raise awareness about the threat of sewage spills in America’s waters. (Aug 28, 2007)

Green Infrastructure Update

The topic of green infrastructure continues to gather momentum. Members of the Network’s Steering Committee have been working to organize support for green infrastructure among various interests groups and associations. This group has started working collaboratively with the EPA. It will also continue lobbying for additional House and Senate support and funding for this effort. Stay tuned for further information and opportunities to participate! (Jul 19, 2007)

Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act of 2007 (H.R. 2452)

On May 24th Congressmen Timothy Bishop (D-NY) and Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) introduced the Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act of 2007 (H.R. 2452). (Jun 29, 2007)

Green Infrastructure Moves Ahead

Members of the CWN Wet Weather Workgroup are working actively on a joint workplan with EPA to promote green infrastructure initiatives. The group led by Nancy Stoner, NRDC, Katherine Baer, American Rivers and Paul Schwartz, Clean Water Action are also working on Capitol Hill to get language included in an appropriations bill to fund green infrastructure efforts. (May 30, 2007)

Action Alert: Ask Congress to Fund EPA Partnership to Promote Green Infrastructure Solutions

Please ask your Representatives in the House to support the request to the Appropriations Committee asking them to direct U.S. EPA to provide staff and $10 million in grants for the green infrastructure partnership initiative that EPA committed to on April 19th. This initiative seeks to promote the use of soil and vegetation and other "green infrastructure" as a means of addressing stormwater pollution and sewer overflows. (May 2, 2007)

Update on State Revolving Fund: H.R. 720 Moves to the Senate

H.R. 720, the Water Quality Financing Act of 2007, passed the House on March 9th by a vote of 303-108. This bill reauthorizes the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for $14 billion for 2008-2012. The bill includes a number of improvements over existing law that were advocated by Network members. Thanks to everyone who has supported increased funding for clean water infrastructure! The bill now heads to the Senate where we hope to further strengthen it. (Mar 30, 2007)

The Water Quality Investment Act of 2007 (H.R. 569) Passes in House

The House has approved H.R. 569, the "Water Quality Investment Act of 2007.” The bill now heads to the Senate were it was introduced by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.). The purpose of the legislation is to address the problem of sewer overflows by authorizing $1.8 billion in grants over five years. (Mar 13, 2007)

Clean Water State Revolving Fund—Legislative Update

H.R. 720, the Water Quality Financing Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, March 9th by a vote of 303-108 despite a Statement of Administration Policy issued by the President that day that threatened a veto if the bill was presented to him in its current form. The bill, which authorizes $14 billion over four years to replenish the State Revolving Fund program, which states use to leverage funding for water infrastructure repairs, will go to the Senate for consideration. In the event of a veto, the bill will need 289 House votes and 60 Senate votes to become law. This legislation would reauthorize the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides vital funds to state and local governments to fix crumbling water infrastructure facilities. During Clean Water Week, Network members lobbied to strengthen this legislation by promoting efficient and environmentally-friendly low impact development and green infrastructure approaches. (Mar 12, 2007)

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Issues Memo in Support of Green Infrastructure

On March 5, 2007, the EPA issued a memo to its Regional Administrators discussing how the use of green infrastructure can be both cost effective and environmentally preferable option in implementing water programs. The memo also promoted work by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and its Rooftops to Rivers report, which is available at: http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp (Mar 12, 2007)

Other Clean Water SRF News: Green Budget Report
http://www.americanrivers.org/site/DocServer/GREENBUDGET.pdf?docID=3461

Twenty-one environmental groups have produced a budget blueprint outlining their priorities and recommendations for the federal government's FY08 budget. The report recommends that the FY 08 budget for the Clean Water SRF total $1.105 billion which is an increase of $218 million over the FY06 enacted level of $887 million. (Jan 30, 2007)

U.S. House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Clean Water Infrastructure

The Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee held its first hearing on Friday, January 19th on the nation’s clean water infrastructure needs and how to address those needs. Nancy Stoner, Director of NRDC’s Clean Water Project and Network Steering Committee member, presented testimony to subcommittee members outlining why the Clean Water SRF is a good investment and why the program’s budget needs to be substantially increased. (Jan 30, 2007)

It’s Official – No Federal Money Will be spent on EPA’s Sewage Dumping Policy

CWN is proud to announce a major legislative victory for clean water! Language in the final version of the Interior and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill prevents EPA from initiating its sewage dumping policy. (Aug 18, 2005)

Major Victory in the House of Representatives!!!

On May 19 clean water advocates won a great victory over the Environmental Protection Agency’s misguided proposal to allow sewage treatment operators to dump barely treated sewage into lakes and rivers anytime it rains! (May 27, 2005)

135 Members of Congress Send Letter to EPA Condemning Proposed Sewage Dumping Policy

A bi-partisan letter from the House of Representatives was sent to EPA Administrator Steve Johnson condemning the agency's Sewage Dumping policy. Click the link to below to see the letter. (Mar 9, 2005)

January 2004 House Letter Opposing EPA Sewage Dumping Guidance

64 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Leavitt opposing a Guidance allowing Publicly Owned Sewer Operators to discharge untreated sewage into waters during any kind of rain event. (Dec 3, 2004)

State by State Breakdown of the Clean Water SRF

Congress cut the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds by 18% from $1.342 billion to $1.1 billion at a time when water infrastructure is in critical condition. See how much less money your state will receive in 2005 to improve its water infrastructure. (Dec 2, 2004)

31 Governors Call on Congress to Support Adequate Funding for the SRF

A Bi-Partisan group of governors from all across the country sent letters to both the leaders in the Senate and House urging Congress to fund the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to at least the level funding amount of $1.35 billion for FY 2005. (Sep 13, 2004)