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<br />legislation for 1994. They defined the major goal of
<br />their legislation as reducing water pollution in a way
<br />that imposes the least possible burden on the
<br />regulated community and regulators.
<br />
<br />H.R. 3948 would increase the federal contribution
<br />to CWA SRF programs to $3B in FY95, with an
<br />Increase of one-half a billion dollars each year
<br />thereafter, reaching a total of $5.5B in FY2000, More
<br />flexibility would be provided to state and local
<br />governments in the expend~ure of SRFs. For
<br />example, restrictions on the use of SRFs for combined
<br />sewer overflows would be .removed. Special SRF
<br />features would be added to help "hardship
<br />communities." In most cases, small rural communities
<br />would benefit from this designation. Another change
<br />would be to revise the CWA SRF funding allocation
<br />formula, Such revisions, however, are not currently in
<br />H.R, 3948, but are expected to be added to the bill
<br />during markup. Further, CWA SRF provisions would
<br />be amended to encourage the use of treatment
<br />technologies and designs that cost less, but do more.
<br />EPA would be required to publish an annual report on
<br />innovative and alternative technologies, And, the bill
<br />would end the practice of making "site-specific"
<br />funding commitments for CWA projects, according to
<br />Mineta and Boehlert.
<br />
<br />W~h respect to control of NPSP, H.R. 3948 would
<br />require states to implement NPSP plans, but such
<br />plans could be tailored to state priorities and needs.
<br />The basis of the plans would be compliance with
<br />water quality standards. And, NPSP plans would have
<br />to be legally enforceable and aimed at both urban and
<br />rural runoff problems, Further, the bill would increase
<br />funding for state NPSP programs.
<br />
<br />Watershed planning and regulation provisions of
<br />H.R, 3948 would allow states to designate watersheds
<br />where such designations would be helpful, but not
<br />require states to do so, In designated watersheds, all
<br />point and NPSP permits would be adjusted to have
<br />concurrent five year terms. States would be allowed-
<br />to make tradeoffs between NPSP and point source
<br />discharges to achieve water quality standards in the
<br />most cost-effective way possible, Further, Mineta and
<br />Boehlert intend to add a provision to H.R. 3948 during
<br />markup to allow perm~ holders to transfer discharge
<br />credits between themselves, as long as the transfers
<br />would lead to compliance with water quality standards
<br />in the watershed.
<br />
<br />Under H.R. 3948's stormwater pollution provisions
<br />large communities would be required to implement
<br />best management practices (BMPs), rather than
<br />construct treatment facilities, to deal with stormwater
<br />runoff. Smaller communities would m~igate such
<br />pollution under their NPSP programs. BMP application
<br />would be mon~ored to check compliance with water
<br />quality standards,
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />H.R. 3948 would authorize a National Academy of
<br />Scit;lnces Study on the effects of chlorine in water
<br />treatment. It modifies EPA's process for dealing with
<br />toxics, requires pollution prevention plans for large
<br />companies, and mandates more strict monitoring of
<br />pollution from federal facil~ies, among other things.
<br />The bill does not contain a title or section on wetlands,
<br />Mineta and Boehlert noted, however, "We are still
<br />considering how best to approach that issue." They
<br />also said that neither the subcommittee nor the
<br />committee will hold additional hearings on H.R, 3944,
<br />since extensive hearings have been held on CWA
<br />issues in the House over the last three years. Written
<br />comments on the bill that are submitted within two
<br />weeks of its introduction, however, will be considered.
<br />
<br />MEETINGS
<br />
<br />Drought Management in the Changing West: New
<br />Directions for Water Policy is a conference hosted by
<br />the International Drought Information Center at the
<br />University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and cosponsored by
<br />the Western States Water Council, to explore how to
<br />make drought management an Integral part of water
<br />management. It will be held May 11-13, at the Red
<br />Lion Hotel-Lloyd Center in Portland, Oregon. Some of
<br />the speakers include WSWC Chairman Dave Kennedy,
<br />Executive Director Craig Bell, and members Ke~h
<br />Higginson, Martha Pagel, and Anne Squier.
<br />
<br />A $150/person early registration fee (must be
<br />postmarked by March 15) includes lunch Wednesday
<br />and Thursday, a Wednesday banquet, and a copy of
<br />the conference proceedings, Contact the University of
<br />Nebraska-Lincoln, International Drought Information
<br />Center, 241 Chase Hall, P.O. Box 830728, Lincoln, NE
<br />68583-0728; (402) 472-6707; fax (402) 472-6614. The
<br />Red Lion will hold a block of rooms through March 15.
<br />The standard single rate is $67. For reservations call
<br />1-800-547-8010 or (503) 281-6111. Reduced airfares
<br />may be arranged through Van Duling Travel in Lincoln.
<br />Call Claudia Blaha at 1-800-876-1998,
<br />
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<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors of .
<br />member states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon,
<br />South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member states Montana and Oklahoma
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