|
<br />lead to re-initiation of existing projects to ensure that
<br />their operation does not threaten listed species.
<br />
<br />WATER QUAUTY
<br />
<br />Safe Drinking Water Act-Reauthorization
<br />
<br />S, 1547, to reauthorize the Safe Drinking Water Act
<br />(SDWA), has been introduced in the Senate by
<br />Senator Max Baucus (D-MT). Important provisions of
<br />the bill would: (1) establish a state revolving loan fund
<br />(SRF) for construction of drinking water treatment
<br />facilities, with authorization of $600M for FY94 and $1 B
<br />annually for FY95-FY2000 (a 20% state match would
<br />be required); (2) provide new requirements regarding
<br />standard setting for drinking water contaminants,
<br />where EPA, within three years of enactment of the bill,
<br />and every three years thereafter, identifies for
<br />regulation the 15 contaminants which pese the
<br />greatest risk to public health; (3) require states to
<br />develop plans to coordinate the management of public
<br />water systems serving 3,300 individuals, or less,
<br />Including establishing criteria for determining viability,
<br />proposing. schemes for the consolidation of
<br />management of small systems, and defining the
<br />financing needs of such systems; (4) increase
<br />emphasis on drinking water pollution prevention,
<br />especially in wellhead protection and sole source
<br />aquifer areas; (5) establish new requirements for
<br />regulating radon and lead in drinking water; and (6)
<br />enhance EPA's enforcement authority.
<br />
<br />One hearing has been heid been held on S. 1547.
<br />EPA's new Assistant Administrator for Water Robert
<br />Perciasepe was a key witness. He urged Congress to
<br />fine-tune SDWA, but not overhaul it. He expressed
<br />support for much of S. 1547, but offered, in his written
<br />testimony, a number of suggestions to improve it.
<br />
<br />In the House, no comprehensive SDWA
<br />reauthorization bill has been introduced, Two
<br />committees - Public Works and Energy - have
<br />approved competing bills that authorize a drinking
<br />water SRF. However, a disagreement over jurisdiction
<br />has so far prevented further action. In the Senate,
<br />Senator Nickles (R-OK) has introduced S. 767, to
<br />reauthorize SDWA. A major difference between that
<br />bill and the Baucus bill is S. 767 authorizes no
<br />additional funding. While Senator Chafee (R-RI), the
<br />ranking minority member on the Senate Environment
<br />Committee, was expected to cosponsorS, 1547, he
<br />
<br />did not endorse the bill. Reportedly, he has a number
<br />of concerns with its approach, which are being .
<br />discussed at the staff level.
<br />
<br />ORGANIZATlONS
<br />
<br />Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO)
<br />
<br />ASDSO has announced its 1994 scholarship
<br />program for undergraduate students interested in dam
<br />safety engineering as a career, Contact ASDSO at
<br />450 Old East Vine, Second Floor, Lexington, KY
<br />40507 (606) 257-5146 for information.
<br />,
<br />
<br />Interstate Council on Water Policy (ICWP)
<br />
<br />ICWP's recent annual meeting was held in
<br />conjunction with an "Interamerican Dialogue on Water
<br />Management." The prcgram included many
<br />interesting and productive discussions, and fostered
<br />relationships which its sponsors hope will launch
<br />increasing coordination, cooperation, and information
<br />exchange between water managers in North, South,
<br />and Latin America.
<br />
<br />During the meeting, ICWP presented the Western
<br />States Water Council with its Water Management
<br />Achievement Award, which is given for introduction of .
<br />an "innovative or progressive water management
<br />project or program." Wayne Haas, a Council
<br />representative from Idaho, and ICWP immediate past-
<br />chair, accepted the award on the Council's behalf.
<br />Keith Higginson, the Council's vice-chair, will present
<br />the award to the Council at the next Council meeting
<br />in Hawaii, In explaining the award, ICWP's Executive
<br />Director, Holly Stoerker, noted that, "while the Council
<br />has made many important contributions over the years
<br />to the advancement of water policy, we particularly
<br />wanted to recognize the Council's recent leadership in
<br />the development of the Park City Principles. Please
<br />convey our deepest appreciation and congratulations
<br />to all the Council members."
<br />
<br />PEOPLE
<br />
<br />WSWC member Ruben Ayala has been awarded
<br />the Association of California Water Agencies annual
<br />Legislative Merit Award for his leadership on water
<br />issues. Ayala chaired the California Senate Committee
<br />on Agriculture and Water Resources for 16 years
<br />before assuming a seat on the Rules Committee.
<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, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,
<br />Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member state Oklahoma
<br />
|