AWWA JAW59335

This article discusses several bills in the U.S. Congress that include: HR 6, a comprehensive energy policy bill that includes language concerning the controversial MTBE safe harbor, which AWWA strongly opposes; HR1560, the Water Quality Financing Act that would reauthorize and reform the Clean Water Act state revolving fund (SRF) program for wastewater utilities by closing an estimated $10 billion annual funding gap that exists between infrastructure needs and current levels of spending; HR866, the Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act that would provide $200 million in grants to underwrite 75% of the cost of developing vulnerability assessments and implementing security improvements at wastewater treatment works, up to a maximum of $150,000 per plant; and, S 994 that orders operators of nonfederal facilities that make, distribute, or use hazardous chemicals to complete vulnerability assessments and site security plans and to consider (but not require) use of safer practices such as using less hazardous substances to do the same job. Several appropriations bills are discussed, having to do with the US Environmental Protection Agency budget, agriculture programs, and energy and water spending.