Monday Morning Briefing

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Our Monday Morning Briefing offers weekly coverage of all the latest water policy news. The latest issue of MMB is available for everyone to read but you must be a member to see the archives.

Past Issues (Join or Login to Continue)

May 5, 2014

WRDA Agreement, WIFIA News Expected Soon

Multiple reports from Capitol Hill say House and Senate negotiators are in the final stages of working out a compromise “Water Resources Development

CFATS Reauthorization Continues Water Exemption, Calls for Study

The House Homeland Security Committee last week approved legislation to extend the Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism

AMWA Hosting Water/Energy Webinar on May 8

This Thursday, May 8, AMWA, WaterISAC and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions will host “An Overview of Water/Energy Issues from National and

Value of Water Coalition Plans Infrastructure Week Event

As part of Infrastructure Week 2014, the Value of Water Coalition will host “From Invisible to Invaluable: Changing the Way We Think about Water

This Week in Congress

The Senate this week is expected to begin consideration of a long-awaited energy efficiency bill. Numerous amendments are likely to be offered to the

AMWA Seeks Member Input for 2014 Annual Meeting Program

Last Tuesday, AMWA sent members a short survey to gather their ideas on topics and speakers for its 2014 Annual Meeting, to be held October 19-22 in

April 28, 2014

Comment Period Opens for “Waters of the U.S.” Proposal

On April 21, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published their “Waters of the U.S.” rule proposal in the Federal Register, starting the clock

AMWA Hosting Water/Energy Webinar on May 8

Registration has been brisk for the first of three webinars on energy-water nexus issues hosted by AMWA, WaterISAC and the Center for Climate and

Supreme Court Declines Review of MTBE Judgment

On April 21, the Supreme Court declined to consider an appeal from Exxon Mobil Corp. of a federal appeals court’s $104.69 million award against the

California, EPA Take Next Steps on Hexavalent Chromium

California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) has proposed a final rule setting a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for hexavalent chromium (CrVI) at

This Week in Congress

Lawmakers return to Washington this week with plans for the Senate to take up a long-stalled energy efficiency bill and legislation to extend dozens

Application Deadlines Approach for AMWA’s 2014 Awards

For AMWA members wishing to apply for one of the association’s utility management awards this year, the application deadlines are just weeks away

April 14, 2014

Easter Recess Clears Halls Of Congress

The House and Senate are in recess for the next two weeks, returning the week of April 28. Monday Morning Briefing will not be published on April 21

Utility Leaders, Federal Agencies Collaborate On Climate Change Resilience

AMWA and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) co-hosted the Water Resilience Summit on April 9-10. The summit was a high-level

WIFIA, SRFs And Muni Bonds Win Support At Water Policy Conference

AMWA-backed proposals to enact a WIFIA (“Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act”) program, boost funding for the Drinking Water State

EPA Leadership Outlines 2014 Priorities

Speaking at AMWA’s 2014 Water Policy Conference, members of EPA’s leadership team addressed the agency’s priorities. EPA Deputy Administrator Bob

Senator Offers “Smart Water,” WaterSense Bills

New Mexico Democratic Senator Tom Udall last week introduced a suite of four bills intended to promote more efficient use of water supplies in

Senate Bill Would Restart Build America Bonds

Legislation introduced last week by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) would establish a permanent version of the temporary Build America Bonds (BAB) program

EPA Releases Agency Strategic Plan And Water Technology Blueprint

Last week EPA released its agency-wide FY 2014-2018 Strategic Plan and version two of its Water Technology Innovation Blueprint. The Strategic Plan is

Sustainability Roadmap From EPA Provides Next Steps For Effective Utility Management

A new guide from EPA, Moving Toward Sustainability: Water Sector Utility Roadmap of Practices, has been released to help water systems address

Synthesis Document Released On EPA’s Credit Risks And Resilience Stakeholder Process

On Friday, EPA sent participants in its Risks and Resilience Stakeholder Process a final synthesis document of the process discussions. The process

April 7, 2014

Water Policy Conference Brings Water Execs To Nation’s Capital

AMWA members gather this week in Washington, D.C. for the association’s 2014 Water Policy Conference. EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe will

Federal Judge Vacates Florida’s Water Transfers Rule

In a possibly serious set-back to water suppliers, on March 28 Judge Kenneth Karas of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of N.Y

Senate Panel Approves Chemical Storage Bill With Spill Notification Provision

Chemical storage facilities would be required to establish procedures for “immediately” notifying nearby water systems after discovering a spill that

IPCC Report Highlights Climate Risks, Identifies Adaptation Opportunities

On March 31, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Working Group II report for its fifth assessment. The 44-page “Summary

Lawmakers Query EPA On SRF Budget, Climate Change Prep

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy returned to Capitol Hill last week to once again defend the agency’s FY15 budget and its request to cut Drinking Water

House Panel Approves 3-Year CFATS Extension With Water Exemption

A House Homeland Security subcommittee last week approved a three-year extension of the Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Facility Anti

EPA Schedules Webcast On “Waters of the U.S.” Proposal

Following the March 25 release of the pre-publication draft of the proposed rulemaking, “Definition of Waters of the Untied States Under the Clean

WaterISAC Webcast To Focus On DHS Physical Security Assessments

On Tuesday, April 15, from 2:00 – 2:40 p.m. (ET), WaterISAC will host a webcast on “Physical Security Assessment by DHS Protective Security Advisors.”

This Week In Congress

The House of Representatives this week will vote on the Republicans’ FY15 budget blueprint authored by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan. The

March 31, 2014

EPA, Army Corps Release “Waters Of The U.S.” Proposal

On March 25, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the release of a proposed rule clarifying the scope of Clean Water Act jurisdiction

Congress Slams Proposed SRF Cuts

Lawmakers of all political stripes came out swinging last week against the Obama Administration’s proposal to cut Drinking Water and Clean Water State

NDWAC Working Group Kicks Off Lead And Copper Rule Review Process

The National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) working group established to review potential revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) held

EPW Panel To Consider Chemical Spill Bill This Week

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) reiterated her plans to mark up legislation this week in response to

EPA To Hold Webinar On Coordination Between Water And Electric Utilities In Disasters

On Wednesday, April 2, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET, EPA will host its second of four webinars in its series “Water and Energy Nexus in Disasters Webinar

Status Of The Climate Report Links Extreme Weather To “Human-Induced Climate Change”

The World Meterological Organization’s (WMO) statement on the status of the global climate says 2013 was one of the warmest years on the earth since

AAAS Initiative Hopes To Raise Profile Of Climate Change

An initiative launched in mid-March by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) aims to communicate to the public the reality

This Week In Congress

Senators this week are expected to continue work on legislation that would restore jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed and vote on a bill to

March 24, 2014

Policy Conference Keynoter: EPA’s Bob Perciasepe

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Administrator  Bob Perciasepe will be the keynote speaker at AMWA’s 2014 Water Policy Conference, to be

Senators Seek Support For SRF Funding

Two U.S. Senators are fighting back against President Obama’s proposal to cut funding for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF

Lawmakers Offer Legislation To Lift PAB Cap For Water Infrastructure

In a WaterISAC webinar scheduled for Tuesday, April 15, 2:00 – 2:40 p.m. ET, Frank Westfall, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Regional Director

White House Launches Climate Data Initiative

On March 19, the White House announced a new climate data initiative to make federal climate data more accessible to support climate change

WaterISAC’s Water Sector Cyber Threat Briefing Set For March 25

On Tuesday, March 25, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET, WaterISAC Pro members can attend the latest monthly Water Sector Cyber Threat Briefing. The webcast will

WRF Webcast To Discuss Contaminants Of Emerging Concern

On April 1, the Water Research Foundation (WRF) will hold a one-hour (12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET) webcast to present findings from a recent workshop

GAO Reports On Climate Risks To Energy Infrastructure Highlights Energy-Water Nexus

A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report , Climate Change: Energy Infrastructure Risks and Adaptation Efforts, highlights the

This Week in Congress: March 24, 2014

The Senate returns from recess this week and is expected to vote on a bill to extend unemployment insurance benefits to 2 million jobless Americans

March 17, 2014

Candidates Confirmed For Top Positions At NOAA, Interior

The Senate confirmed Dr. Kathryn Sullivan as Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and

Panel Votes To Exclude Pesticide Applications From NPDES Permits

The House Agriculture Committee last week approved legislation that would allow farmers, water systems, and others to apply certain pesticides near

Congress Reaches Another Break With No Breakthrough On WIFIA

When lawmakers departed the Capitol last Friday to begin a one-week break, it marked the third recess of 2014 that began without a bicameral agreement

Water Policy Conference Hotel Deadline Extended To This Friday

There is still time to reserve your place at the year’s most informative gathering of drinking water utility executives, as the preferred hotel

WaterISAC To Host Water Sector Cyber Threat Briefing

On March 25, 2014, WaterISAC will host the monthly Water Sector Cyber Threat Briefing. The webcast will cover industrial control system security

EPA Webinar To Focus On Threshold Analysis To Support Decision Making

This Wednesday, March 19 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EDT, EPA’s Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) will hold its next webinar in a series on the topic of

This Week in Congress: March 17, 2014

The House and Senate are each out of session this week for a brief recess. Members of both chambers will be back at work in Washington on March 24

March 10, 2014

President’s FY15 Budget Cuts EPA, SRF Funding

The $3.9 trillion fiscal year 2015 budget request sent by President Obama to Congress last week proposes new cuts to EPA and the Drinking Water and

Obama Budget Would Cap Tax Deductions, Limit Muni Bond Benefits

For the third year in a row, President Obama’s budget request to Congress would cap certain tax deductions for high-income families – a provision that

Climate Resilience Fund, New Bond Programs Part Of FY15 Budget

Beyond SRF funding levels and caps on tax-exempt municipal bond interest, the hundreds of pages of President Obama’s FY15 budget request include

Senate Panel To Mark Up Chemical Spill Legislation April 2

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee will mark up chemical storage facility oversight legislation on April 2, panel Chairman

EPA Announces First NDWAC Lead And Copper Rule Working Group Meeting

EPA announced the dates for the first meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) Working Group. The

EPA Seeks Nominees For Environmental Finance Advisory Board

EPA is seeking nominations for persons to serve on its Environmental Finance Advisory Board (EFAB). The EFAB advises EPA on many diverse financial

GOP Senators Renew Opposition To Office Of Water Nominee

Six Republican senators circulated a letter to their colleagues last week encouraging opposition to President Obama’s nomination of Ken Kopocis to

This Week in Congress: March 10, 2014

The House this week will vote on several bills that GOP leaders say respond to what they call “the executive overreach of the Obama administration.”

March 3, 2014

Tax Reform Proposal Includes New Levies On Muni Bond Interest

A draft federal tax reform proposal unveiled on Capitol Hill last week includes new taxes on municipal bond interest collected by wealthy individuals

Tax Plan Targets PABs For Phase-Out

Another section of the Rep. Dave Camp’s federal tax policy overhaul would phase out tax benefits for private activity bonds (PABs). The changes would

EPA Encourages Utilities To Adopt NIST Cybersecurity Framework

Nancy Stoner, EPA’s Acting Assistant Administrator for Water, has encouraged drinking water and wastewater utilities to adopt the National Institute

Lawmakers Circulate WIFIA Support Letter On Hill

Two House lawmakers are preparing a letter in support of a “Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act” (WIFIA) that would offer low-cost

DHS Calls Ending Water’s CFATS Exemption “A Laudable Goal”

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection Caitlin Durkovich told Congress last week that ending the drinking

U.S. And U.K. National Academies Release Climate Science Plain-English Primer

Last week the National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Academy (the United Kingdom’s national science academy) released Climate Change – Evidence &

EPA Issues Minor Corrections To Revised Total Coliform Rule

EPA published a direct final rule on February 26 that makes several edits to the final Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) promulgated in February 2013

This Week in Congress: March 3, 2014

This week the House of Representatives is slated to vote on two GOP-backed bills targeting federal environmental regulations. H.R. 3826 would limit

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