Municipal bonds, electronic Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) delivery and the status of Lead and Copper Rule revisions were among the many topics of interest addressed by federal regulators and national legislators at AMWA’s 2013 Water Policy Conference last week in Washington, D.C.
Speaking of EPA’s interpretive memorandum on electronic CCR distribution, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Director Peter Grevatt urged water utilities to promote best practices in publishing these online water quality reports to demonstrate the value of electronic delivery and forestall challenges to the newly approved practice.
Grevatt also announced that EPA would temporarily step back from revising the 1989 rule for lead and copper in drinking water and seek additional stakeholder feedback on the issues involved. While the rule will still be a priority action in 2013, he did not say when a rule might be proposed. However, he does expect guidance on the definition of “lead-free” will be issued this year.
National Public Radio political analyst Mara Liasson and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle expressed optimism that the tax exemption for municipal bonds would not be eliminated in upcoming budget bargaining.
More details of the Water Policy Conference will be reported in the March-April issue of Water Utility Executive. PowerPoint presentations from the conference are available to members online at www.amwa.net/cs/conferences/presentations.