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)

January 20, 2014

FY14 Spending Bill Maintains SRF Funds, Imposes Iron And Steel Restrictions

A $1.1 trillion FY14 omnibus appropriations bill approved by Congress eliminates drastic cuts to the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving

CFATS Extension, IRIS Study Find Place In Omnibus

Running more than 1,500 pages long, the FY14 omnibus appropriations bill includes a multitude of funding awards and policy directions. Items of

EPA Administrator Highlights Water Adaptation In Climate Change Testimony

Testifying last week before the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy told lawmakers that drinking

Subcommittee Advances Cybersecurity Legislation

Citing risks highlighted by a recent security breach aimed at Target customers, a House Homeland Security subcommittee easily advanced bipartisan

GAO Study Recommends Regulatory Revisions To Protect Source Water

A recent study released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), recommends changes to the Clean Water Act (CWA) and, in particular, total

January 13, 2014

Lawmakers Put Finishing Touches On FY14 Spending Bill

House Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) told reporters last week that congressional

New Senate Task Force To Focus On Climate Change

Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) announced last week the formation of a new task force they hope will unite Senate

WaterISAC Survey Seeks Security Incident Info

WaterISAC is working on its semi-annual analysis of security incidents and suspicious activities in the water sector, covering July 1 - December 31

WaterRF Plans Webcast On Legal Protection And Claims Management From Infrastructure Failure  

On Thursday, January 30, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET, the Water Research Foundation will host a webcast titled “Legal Protection and Claims Management

This Week in Congress: January 13, 2014

House and Senate lawmakers are expected to vote on a stopgap continuing resolution (CR) early this week to keep the government operating after

January 6, 2014

Charlie Cook To Headline AMWA 2014 Water Policy Conference

Noted political analyst Charlie Cook will open AMWA’s 2014 Water Policy Conference, scheduled for April 6-9 in Washington, D.C. Editor and publisher

AMWA Comments On Draft EPA Plans

On January 2, AMWA submitted comments to EPA on its Draft Office of Water (OW) Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan and its Draft FY 2014

Obama Signs Fire Hydrant Lead Exemption Into Law

President Obama signed the AMWA-supported “Community Fire Safety Act” (H.R. 3588) into law last month just before departing for his holiday vacation

2014 Could Bring New Developments On Chemical Facility Security

Work on proposals to strengthen chemical facility security policies could pick up steam in the new year, as the Obama Administration and congressional

EPA To Host January CCR Training Webinars

In late January, EPA will host a two-part webinar on Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs). Part I, “CCR Rule 101,” is scheduled for January 23 (2:00-3

EPA Kicks Off 2014 Green Infrastructure Webcast Series Tomorrow

As part of its Green Infrastructure Program, EPA is conducting a series of bi-monthly webcasts throughout 2014 that “will cover a range of topics and

This Week in Congress: January 6, 2014

Congress returns to Washington from its holiday recess this week, and House lawmakers are expected to vote on H.R. 2279, legislation that seeks to

December 23, 2013

Holiday Recess Begins

The Senate has gone into recess for the remainder of the year, following the example of the House of Representatives, which recessed a week earlier

Senate Approves, Sends Fire Hydrant Legislation To White House

AMWA-supported legislation to exempt fire hydrants from new lead-content standards won Senate approval last week, virtually ensuring that communities

Senate Approves Budget Deal

The Senate approved a two-year federal budget agreement last week, setting the stage for appropriators to develop a suite of FY14 spending bills and

Senate Panel Plans 2014 Climate Change Hearing

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is reportedly planning to hold a mid-January hearing on President Obama’s Climate Action Plan

December 16, 2013

EPA Reportedly Reverses Fire Hydrant Decision In Advance Of Senate Vote

EPA late last week reportedly reversed its controversial decision to apply new lead-content rules to newly installed fire hydrants, just days before

NDWAC Gives Green Light To Lead And Copper Workgroup

During its meeting last week, the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) unanimously agreed to establish a working group to provide

Obama Administration Has Concerns With WIFIA Proposal

As House and Senate negotiations to hash out a final “Water Resources Development Act” (WRDA) are primed to stretch into next year, the Obama

Budget Agreement Pares Back Sequester Cuts

A two-year federal budget agreement reached by leading lawmakers last week will scale back budget sequester cuts in the fiscal years 2014 and 2015

Farm Bill Completion Eyed For January

Congressional negotiators were unable to reach agreement on a new farm bill before the House of Representatives adjourned for the year on Friday, but

This Week In Congress

Members of the Senate will aim to wrap up all remaining business this week in advance of the holidays. Top agenda items include votes on the

December 9, 2013

House Unanimously Approves Fire Hydrant Bill; AMWA Seeks Senate Support

Legislation to exempt fire hydrants from new “lead-free” standards set to take effect in January unanimously passed the House of Representatives on

Final WRDA/WIFIA Legislation Unlikely Before January

With the holiday recess fast approaching, congressional staffers say House and Senate negotiators are unlikely to publicly release a final “Water

Negotiators Strike Note Of Optimism On Farm Bill

House and Senate conferees are reportedly making progress in ongoing farm bill negotiations, raising optimism that the bill could be finalized before

Cyber Threat Briefing On Dec. 17 To Cover Legal Issues And Vulnerabilities

On Tuesday, December 17, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. ET, WaterISAC will host its monthly Water Sector Cyber Threat Briefing for Pro members. Online

Water Research Foundation Dec. 10 Webcast To Discuss EDCs And PPCPs

The Water Research Foundation is hosting a webcast tomorrow (Tuesday, December 10) from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss its recently completed project

Report Calls For Greater Understanding Of Abrupt Climate Change

A recent National Research Council report by a Committee on Understanding and Monitoring Abrupt Climate Change and Its Impacts recommends the

CEQ’s Sutley Stepping Down In February

Last week the White House announced that Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and a past speaker at AMWA’s Water

This Week In Congress

The House of Representatives will attempt to wrap up a number of items before departing for the holidays on Friday. Measures that could receive votes

November 25, 2013

Capitol Empties For Thanksgiving Holiday

Congress is in recess for the Thanksgiving holiday: the House will return the week of December 2 and the Senate the week of December 9. The AMWA

Bipartisan House Bill Could Solve Fire Hydrant Issue

New legislation introduced in the House of Representatives last week would specifically exempt fire hydrants from new lead-free requirements scheduled

WRDA Conferees Convene To Negotiate Final Bill, Decide On WIFIA

Members of a House-Senate conference committee tasked with negotiating a final “Water Resources Development Act” (WRDA) formally met for the first

Filibuster Reform Paves Way For Kopocis’ Confirmation To Head Office Of Water

Last week, the Senate voted to change its rules and allow certain presidential nominees (excluding the Supreme Court) to advance by a simple majority

EPA Initiates Workgroup On Integrating Climate Readiness Into Utility Credit Assessments

EPA’s Climate Ready Water Utilities program, in conjunction with the sustainable investment advocacy organization CERES, recently launched a workgroup

Report Recommends Better Climate Information For Improved Financial Decision Making

A report by the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Policy Program, Climate Information Needs for Financial Decision Making, recommends a simplified

NDWAC Seeks Nominees To Fill Open Seats

EPA published a Federal Register notice on November 15 seeking nominations of qualified individuals to be considered for appointment to the National

Rep. Blumenauer Offers New Wastewater Trust Fund Bill

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) last week introduced the latest version of his long-discussed legislation to establish a trust fund to direct additional

Supreme Court Declines To Review MTBE Ruling Against Maryland Residents

The Supreme Court last week declined to review a lower court ruling that overturned nearly $1.5 billion in compensatory and putative damages against

Reminder - EPA Webinar On Fire Hydrants And Lead-Free Rules

EPA is hosting a webinar this afternoon, Monday, November 25, from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. (EST) to receive feedback on its recent interpretation that fire

November 18, 2013

Coalition Asks Congress to Preserve WIFIA in Water Resources Bill

AMWA and a coalition of municipal and business organizations wrote to lawmakers last week encouraging the inclusion of the “Water Infrastructure

AMWA Urges Members to Contact House and Senate Negotiators Over WIFIA Legislation

AMWA continues to encourage its members to reach out to their representatives and senators as soon as possible to express support for WIFIA. The

Rep. Calvert Takes Gavel of Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee

California Republican Rep. Ken Calvert has been named the new chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, replacing

McCarthy Testifies on Draft Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Rule

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy told a House panel last week that the agency’s draft proposed Clean Water Act jurisdiction rule is “very, very early

November 11, 2013

Letters To Congress, EPA Urge Exemption Of Fire Hydrants From New “Lead Free” Requirements

AMWA last week joined a coalition of drinking water associations in submitting two joint letters, one to Congress and one to EPA, requesting the

Senate Names Conferees To Negotiate WRDA, WIFIA

The Senate last week announced eight lawmakers who will serve on a conference committee to produce a final water resources bill in the coming weeks –

EPA Releases Report On Water’s Importance To U.S. Economy

Last week EPA released a report aimed at raising public awareness of water’s importance to the national economy. The report synthesizes and summarizes

EPA Office Of Water Plan Identifies New Activities For Implementing Climate Change Adaptation

On the heels of the President’s Executive Order on Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change, announced on November 1, EPA

New Cyber Bill Seeks To Raise Public Awareness

New legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate last week would require federal agencies to report to Congress on cyber threats facing critical

Water Sector Cyber Threat Briefing Set For November 19

On November 19, WaterISAC will host its monthly Water Sector Cyber Threat Briefing. The webcast will cover industrial control system security

Senator Booker Joins EPW Panel

Newly elected Senator Corey Booker (D-N.J.) has been named to the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, which has oversight of the

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